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Pacella A, Ballirano P, Di Carlo MC, Fantauzzi M, Rossi A, Nardi E, Viti C, Arrizza L, Campopiano A, Cannizzaro A, Bloise A, Montereali MR. Dissolution Reaction and Surface Modification of UICC Amosite in Mimicked Gamble's Solution: A Step towards Filling the Gap between Asbestos Toxicity and Its Crystal Chemical Features. Nanomaterials (Basel) 2023; 13:2933. [PMID: 37999287 PMCID: PMC10674585 DOI: 10.3390/nano13222933] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
This study focuses on the dissolution process and surface characterization of amosite fibres following interaction with a mimicked Gamble's solution at a pH of 4.5 and T = 37 °C, up to 720 h. To achieve this, a multi-analytical approach was adopted, and the results were compared to those previously obtained on a sample of asbestos tremolite and UICC crocidolite, which were investigated under the same experimental conditions. Combining surface chemical data obtained by XPS with cation release quantified by ICP-OES, an incongruent behaviour of the fibre dissolution was highlighted for amosite fibres, similarly to asbestos tremolite and UICC crocidolite. In particular, a preferential release of Mg and Ca from the amphibole structure was observed, in agreement with their Madelung site energies. Notably, no Fe release from amosite fibres was detected in our experimental conditions (pH of 4.5 and atmospheric pO2), despite the occurrence of Fe(II) at the M(4) site of the amphibole structure, where cations are expected to be rapidly leached out during mineral dissolution. Moreover, the oxidation of both the Fe centres initially present on the fibre surface and those promoted from the bulk, because of the erosion of the outmost layers, was observed. Since biodurability (i.e., the resistance to dissolution) is one of the most important toxicity parameters, the knowledge of the surface alteration of asbestos possibly occurring in vivo may help to understand the mechanisms at the basis of its long-term toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Pacella
- Department of Earth Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (P.B.); (M.C.D.C.)
| | - Paolo Ballirano
- Department of Earth Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (P.B.); (M.C.D.C.)
- Rectoral Laboratory Fibres and Inorganic Particulate, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Di Carlo
- Department of Earth Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (P.B.); (M.C.D.C.)
| | - Marzia Fantauzzi
- INSTM Research Unit, Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (M.F.); (A.R.)
| | - Antonella Rossi
- INSTM Research Unit, Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (M.F.); (A.R.)
| | - Elisa Nardi
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA, Via Vitaliano Brancati 48, 00144 Rome, Italy;
| | - Cecilia Viti
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, Via Laterina 8, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Lorenzo Arrizza
- Microscopy Center, University of L’ Aquila, Via Vetoio, Locality Coppito, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy;
| | - Antonella Campopiano
- Department of Medicine, Epidemiology, Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL), Via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Rome, Italy; (A.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Annapaola Cannizzaro
- Department of Medicine, Epidemiology, Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL), Via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Rome, Italy; (A.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Andrea Bloise
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, V. P. Bucci, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Montereali
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, ENEA, Casaccia Research Centre, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123 Rome, Italy;
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Petriglieri JR, Barale L, Viti C, Ballirano P, Belluso E, Bruno MR, Campopiano A, Cannizzaro A, Fantauzzi M, Gianchiglia F, Montereali MR, Nardi E, Olori A, Piana F, Tomatis M, Rossi A, Skogby H, Pacella A, Turci F. From field analysis to nanostructural investigation: A multidisciplinary approach to describe natural occurrence of asbestos in view of hazard assessment. J Hazard Mater 2023; 457:131754. [PMID: 37276694 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131754] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The environmental impact of natural occurrences of asbestos (NOA) and asbestos-like minerals is a growing concern for environmental protection agencies. The lack of shared sampling and analytical procedures hinders effectively addressing this issue. To investigate the hazard posed by NOA, a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses geology, mineralogy, chemistry, and toxicology is proposed and demonstrated here, on a natural occurrence of antigorite from a site in Varenna Valley, Italy. Antigorite is, together with chrysotile asbestos, one of the serpentine polymorphs and its toxicological profile is still under debate. We described field and petrographic analyses required to sample a vein and to evaluate the NOA-hazard. A combination of standardized mechanical stress and automated morphometrical analyses on milled samples allowed to quantify the asbestos-like morphology. The low congruent solubility in acidic simulated body fluid, together with the toxicity-relevant surface reactivity due to iron speciation, signalled a bio-activity similar or even greater to that of chrysotile. Structural information on the genetic mechanism of antigorite asbestos-like fibres in nature were provided. Overall, the NOA site was reported to contain veins of asbestos-like antigorite and should be regarded as source of potentially toxic fibres during hazard assessment procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmine R Petriglieri
- "G. Scansetti" Interdepartmental Centre for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates, University of Torino, Via Pietro Giuria 9, I-10125 Torino, Italy; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Torino, Via Valperga Caluso 35, I-10125 Torino, Italy; Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, Torino, Italy
| | - Luca Barale
- "G. Scansetti" Interdepartmental Centre for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates, University of Torino, Via Pietro Giuria 9, I-10125 Torino, Italy; Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, Torino, Italy
| | - Cecilia Viti
- University of Siena, Department of Physical Sciences, Earth and Environment, Via Laterina 8, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Paolo Ballirano
- Department of Earth Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy; Rectoral Laboratory Fibres and Inorganic Particulate, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Elena Belluso
- "G. Scansetti" Interdepartmental Centre for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates, University of Torino, Via Pietro Giuria 9, I-10125 Torino, Italy; Department of Earth Sciences, University of Torino, Via Valperga Caluso 35, I-10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Maria R Bruno
- Department of Medicine, Epidemiology, Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL), Lamezia Terme, Italy
| | - Antonella Campopiano
- Department of Medicine, Epidemiology, Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL), via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
| | - Annapaola Cannizzaro
- Department of Medicine, Epidemiology, Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL), via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
| | - Marzia Fantauzzi
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, INSTM Research Unit, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Flaminia Gianchiglia
- Department of Earth Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria R Montereali
- Italian National Agency for New Technologies, ENEA, Casaccia Research Centre, via Anguillarese 301, I-00123 S. Maria di Galeria, Roma, Italy
| | - Elisa Nardi
- Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, ISPRA, via Vitaliano Brancati 48, 00144 Roma, Italy
| | - Angelo Olori
- Department of Medicine, Epidemiology, Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (INAIL), via Fontana Candida 1, 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Piana
- "G. Scansetti" Interdepartmental Centre for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates, University of Torino, Via Pietro Giuria 9, I-10125 Torino, Italy; Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, Torino, Italy
| | - Maura Tomatis
- "G. Scansetti" Interdepartmental Centre for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates, University of Torino, Via Pietro Giuria 9, I-10125 Torino, Italy; Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, Via Pietro Giuria 7, I-10125 Torino, Italy
| | - Antonella Rossi
- Department of Chemical and Geological Sciences, INSTM Research Unit, University of Cagliari, I-09042 Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Henrik Skogby
- Swedish Museum of Natural History, Department of Geosciences, Box 50007, SE-104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Alessandro Pacella
- Department of Earth Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, I-00185 Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesco Turci
- "G. Scansetti" Interdepartmental Centre for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates, University of Torino, Via Pietro Giuria 9, I-10125 Torino, Italy; Institute of Geosciences and Earth Resources, National Research Council (CNR) of Italy, Torino, Italy; Department of Chemistry, University of Torino, Via Pietro Giuria 7, I-10125 Torino, Italy.
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3
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Scicutella F, Cucu MA, Mannelli F, Pastorelli R, Daghio M, Paoli P, Pazzagli L, Turini L, Mantino A, Luti S, Genovese M, Viti C, Buccioni A. Rumen microbial community and milk quality in Holstein lactating cows fed olive oil pomace as part in a sustainable feeding strategy. Animal 2023; 17:100815. [PMID: 37167820 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100815] [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] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of alternative feed ingredients from the Agro-industry could be an efficient tool to improve the sustainability of dairy cow production. Since the richness in polyphenols, olive oil pomace (OOP), produced during olive oil milling, seems a promising by-product to ameliorate milk's nutritional value. The aim of this study was to test the use of OOP produced by means of a new technology (biphasic with stone deprivation) in dairy cow feeding strategy to evaluate the effect on animal performances, rumen microbiota, biohydrogenation processes and milk quality by a multidisciplinary approach. Forty multiparous Italian-Friesian dairy cows, at middle lactation, were randomly allotted into two homogenous groups and fed respectively a commercial diet (CON) and the experimental diet (OOPD) obtained by adding OOP to CON as partial replacement of maize silage. The two diets were formulated to be isoproteic and isoenergetic. The same diets were tested also in an in vitro trial aimed to evaluate their rumen degradability (% DEG). The dietary supplementation with OOP did not affect DM intake, rumen % DEG and milk production. The milk's nutritional quality was improved by increasing several important functional fatty acids (FAs; i.e., linoleic acid, conjugated linoleic acid, oleic acid, vaccenic acid). This finding was related to a decrease in rumen liquor biohydrogenation rate of unsaturated FAs. The stochiometric relation between volatile FA production in the rumen and methanogenesis suggested that OOP lowers the methane potential production (CON = 0.050 mol/L vs OOPD = 0.024 mol/L, SEM = 0.005, P = 0.0011). Rumen microbiota and fungi community did not be strongly altered by OOP dietary inclusion because few bacteria were affected at the genus level only. Particularly, Acetobacter, Prevotellaceae_UCG-004, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001, Eubacterium coprostanoligenes, Lachnospira, Acetitomaulatum, Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20 group were more abundant with OOPD condition (P < 0.05). Data reported in this study confirm that the use of OOP in dairy cow feeding can be an interesting strategy to improve milk nutritional quality increasing functional FA content without compromising the rumen degradability of the diet or causing strong perturbation of rumen ecosystem and maintaining animal performances.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Scicutella
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali. University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy
| | - M A Cucu
- Centro di ricerca Agricoltura e Ambiente, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (CREA-AA), via di Lanciola 12/A, 50125 Firenze, Italy
| | - F Mannelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali. University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy
| | - R Pastorelli
- Centro di ricerca Agricoltura e Ambiente, Consiglio per la ricerca in agricoltura e l'analisi dell'economia agraria (CREA-AA), via di Lanciola 12/A, 50125 Firenze, Italy
| | - M Daghio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali. University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy
| | - P Paoli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sperimentali e Cliniche Mario Serio, Università degli studi di Firenze, 50100 Florence, Italy
| | - L Pazzagli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sperimentali e Cliniche Mario Serio, Università degli studi di Firenze, 50100 Florence, Italy
| | - L Turini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, Università di Pisa, via del borghetto, 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy; Centro di Ricerche Agro-ambientali "E. Avanzi", Università di Pisa, via Vecchia di Marina, 6, 56122, Pisa, Italy
| | - A Mantino
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, Università di Pisa, via del borghetto, 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy; Centro di Ricerche Agro-ambientali "E. Avanzi", Università di Pisa, via Vecchia di Marina, 6, 56122, Pisa, Italy
| | - S Luti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sperimentali e Cliniche Mario Serio, Università degli studi di Firenze, 50100 Florence, Italy
| | - M Genovese
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sperimentali e Cliniche Mario Serio, Università degli studi di Firenze, 50100 Florence, Italy
| | - C Viti
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali. University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy
| | - A Buccioni
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali. University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy; Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca e la Valorizzazione degli Alimenti, University of Florence, viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Firenze, Italy.
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4
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Campanale F, Vergani F, Marian NM, Viti C, Bianchi A, Ferrario S, Mauri M, Capitani G. Epoxy Resins for Flooring Applications, an Optimal Host for Recycling Deactivated Cement Asbestos. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15061410. [PMID: 36987191 PMCID: PMC10056465 DOI: 10.3390/polym15061410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cement asbestos slates, commonly known as Eternit® and still abundant in private and public buildings, were deactivated through a thermal process. The resulting deactivated cement asbestos powder (DCAP), a mixture of Ca-Mg-Al silicates and glass, was compounded with Pavatekno Gold 200 (PT) and Pavafloor H200/E (PF), two different epoxy resins (bisphenol A epichlorohydrin) for flooring applications. The addition of the DCAP filler to the PF samples causes a slight but acceptable decrease in the relevant mechanical properties (compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths) upon increasing DCAP content. The addition of the DCAP filler to pure epoxy (PT resin) causes a slight decrease in the tensile and flexural strengths with increasing DCAP content, while the compressive strength is almost unaffected, and the Shore hardness increases. The main mechanical properties of the PT samples are significantly better than those of the filler-bearing sample of normal production. Overall, these results suggest that DCAP can be advantageously used as filler in addition to, or in substitution for, commercial barite. In particular, the sample with 20 wt% of DCAP is the best performing in terms of compressive, tensile, and flexural strengths, whereas the sample with 30 wt% of DCAP shows the highest Shore hardness, which is an important property to be considered in flooring applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizio Campanale
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 4, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Vergani
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 4, 20126 Milano, Italy
| | - Narcisa Mihaela Marian
- Department of Physical Science, Earth, and Environment (DSFTA), University of Siena, Via Laterina 8, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Cecilia Viti
- Department of Physical Science, Earth, and Environment (DSFTA), University of Siena, Via Laterina 8, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | | | | | - Michele Mauri
- Department of Materials Science, University of Milano-Bicocca, Via Roberto Cozzi 55, 20125 Milan, Italy
| | - Giancarlo Capitani
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences (DISAT), University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza 4, 20126 Milano, Italy
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Conte G, Dimauro C, Daghio M, Serra A, Mannelli F, McAmmond BM, Van Hamme JD, Buccioni A, Viti C, Mantino A, Mele M. Exploring the relationship between bacterial genera and lipid metabolism in bovine rumen. Animal 2022; 16:100520. [PMID: 35468508 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [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: 11/15/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The rumen is characterised by a complex microbial ecosystem, which is particularly active in lipid metabolism. Several studies demonstrated a role of diet and breed on bacterial community profile, with the effect on metabolic pathways. Despite the knowledge achieved on metabolism and the bacterial profile, little is known about the relationship between individual bacteria and metabolic pathways. Therefore, a multivariate approach was used to search for possible relationships between bacteria and products of several pathways. The correlation between rumen bacterial community composition and rumen lipid metabolism was assessed in 40 beef steers (20 Maremmana and 20 Aubrac) reared with the same system and fed the same diet. A canonical discriminant analysis combined with a canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was performed to explore this correlation. The variables showing a Pearson correlation higher than 0.6 as absolute value and significant were retained for CCA considering the relationship of bacterial composition with several metabolic pathways. The results indicated that some bacterial genera could have significant impacts on the presence of several fatty acids. However, the relationship between genera and fatty acid changes according to the breed, demonstrating that the metabolic pathways change according to the host genetic background, related to breed evolution, although there is also an intra-breed genetic background which should not be ignored. In Maremmana, Succiniclasticum and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group showed a high positive correlation with dimethylacetals (DMAs) DMAC13:0, DMAC14:0, DMAC14:0iso, DMAC15:0, DMAC15:0iso, and DMAC18:0. Prevotellaceae_UCG-003 correlates with C18:3c9c12c15 and C18:1t11, while Fibrobacter and Succiniclasticum correlate with C18:2c9t11 and Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group correlates with C18:1c12. Prevotellaceae_UCG-003, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010, and Oribacterium showed a positive correlation with C13:0iso, and C17:0. Conversely, in Aubrac, Treponema_2 and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group correlated with DMAC14:0iso, DMAC16:0iso, DMAC17:0iso, while Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group and Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group correlated with DMAC18:1t11, DMAC14:0, DMAC18:1c12. Acetitomaculum correlated with C18:2c9c12, C18:1c12, C18:1c13, C18:1t12 and Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group with C18:1t6-8 and C18:1t9. Saccharofermentas, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010 and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group correlated with C18:2c9t11 while, Prevotellaceae_UCG-001 and Ruminococcus_1 correlated with C14:0iso, C15:0, C15:0iso, C17:0. Saccharofermentans, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group, and Ruminococcaceae_UCG-010 correlated with C13:1c12 and C16:0iso. These results lead to hypothesise a possible association between several metabolic pathways and one or a few bacterial genera. If these associations are confirmed by further investigations that verify the causality of a bacterial genus with a particular metabolic process, it will be possible to deepen the knowledge on the activity of the rumen population in lipid metabolism. This approach appears to be a promising tool for uncovering the correlation between bacterial genera and products of rumen lipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Conte
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - C Dimauro
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, University of Sassari, Via de Nicola 9, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - M Daghio
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Florence, Italy.
| | - A Serra
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - F Mannelli
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Florence, Italy
| | - B M McAmmond
- Department of Biological Sciences, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8, Canada
| | - J D Van Hamme
- Department of Biological Sciences, Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops, BC V2C 0C8, Canada
| | - A Buccioni
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Florence, Italy
| | - C Viti
- Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Florence, Italy
| | - A Mantino
- Istituto di Scienze della Vita, Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - M Mele
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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Collettini C, Tesei T, Trippetta F, Scuderi MM, Richardson E, Marone C, Pozzi G, Viti C. The Role of Fabric in Frictional Properties of Phyllosilicate-Rich Tectonic Faults. J Vis Exp 2021. [PMID: 34806713 DOI: 10.3791/62821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Many rock deformation experiments used to characterize the frictional properties of tectonic faults are performed on powdered fault rocks or on bare rock surfaces. These experiments have been fundamental to document the frictional properties of granular mineral phases and provide evidence for crustal faults characterized by high friction. However, they cannot entirely capture the frictional properties of faults rich in phyllosilicates. Numerous studies of natural faults have documented fluid-assisted reaction softening promoting the replacement of strong minerals with phyllosilicates that are distributed into continuous foliations. To study how these foliated fabrics influence the frictional properties of faults we have: 1) collected foliated phyllosilicate-rich rocks from natural faults; 2) cut the fault rock samples to obtain solid wafers 0.8-1.2 cm thick and 5 cm x 5 cm in area with the foliation parallel to the 5x5cm face of the wafer; 3) performed friction tests on both solid wafers sheared in their in situ geometry and powders, obtained by crushing and sieving and therefore disrupting the foliation of the same samples; 4) recovered the samples for microstructural studies from the post experiment rock samples; and 5) performed microstructural analyses via optical microscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Mechanical data show that the solid samples with well-developed foliation show significantly lower friction in comparison to their powdered equivalents. Micro- and nano-structural studies demonstrate that low friction results from sliding along the foliation surfaces composed of phyllosilicates. When the same rocks are powdered, frictional strength is high, because sliding is accommodated by fracturing, grain rotation, translation and associated dilation. Friction tests indicate that foliated fault rocks may have low friction even when phyllosilicates constitute only a small percentage of the total rock volume, implying that a significant number of crustal faults are weak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristiano Collettini
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Sapienza Università di Roma; Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia;
| | | | - Fabio Trippetta
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Sapienza Università di Roma
| | - Marco M Scuderi
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Sapienza Università di Roma
| | | | - Chris Marone
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Sapienza Università di Roma; Department of Geoscience, The Pennsylvania State University
| | | | - Cecilia Viti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell'Ambiente, Università di Siena
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7
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Marian NM, Giorgetti G, Magrini C, Capitani GC, Galimberti L, Cavallo A, Salvini R, Vanneschi C, Viti C. From hazardous asbestos containing wastes (ACW) to new secondary raw material through a new sustainable inertization process: A multimethodological mineralogical study. J Hazard Mater 2021; 413:125419. [PMID: 33930960 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays, asbestos-containing wastes (ACW) still represent an important environmental problem and a severe health hazard due to the well known pulmonary diseases derived from asbestos fibers inhalation. Except for a very few cases, ACW are currently confined in controlled landfills, giving rise to increasingly high amounts of still hazardous wastes. A promising alternative to landfill confinement is represented by ACW inertization, but the high cost of the inertization processes so far proposed by the scientific community have hampered the creation of actually operative plants. In this paper, we explore the possibility to use an innovative process that ensures the obtainment of asbestos-free inert material in an exceptionally short processing time, thus greatly reducing cost-related problems. The efficacy of the inertization process has been verified through accurate mineralogical investigations on both chrysotile and crocidolite de-activated fibers, through X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Overall mineralogical, microstructural and granulometric characteristics of the inert bulk material suggest that it could be successfully re-used as a secondary raw material in ceramic industries. This innovative inertization procedure could therefore provide an effective and economically sustainable solution for ACW management.
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Affiliation(s)
- N M Marian
- Department of Physical Science, Earth and Environment, DSFTA (UniSi), V. Laterina 8, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - G Giorgetti
- Department of Physical Science, Earth and Environment, DSFTA (UniSi), V. Laterina 8, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - C Magrini
- Department of Physical Science, Earth and Environment, DSFTA (UniSi), V. Laterina 8, I-53100 Siena, Italy
| | - G C Capitani
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, DISAT (UniMIB), Piazza della Scienza, 4-20126 Milano, Italy
| | - L Galimberti
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, DISAT (UniMIB), Piazza della Scienza, 4-20126 Milano, Italy
| | - A Cavallo
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, DISAT (UniMIB), Piazza della Scienza, 4-20126 Milano, Italy
| | - R Salvini
- Department of Physical Science, Earth and Environment, DSFTA (UniSi), V. Laterina 8, I-53100 Siena, Italy; Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences and Centre for GeoTechnologies CGT (UniSi) Via Vetri Vecchi 34, 52027, San Giovanni Valdarno (AREZZO), Italy
| | - C Vanneschi
- Department of Physical Science, Earth and Environment, DSFTA (UniSi), V. Laterina 8, I-53100 Siena, Italy; Department of Environment, Earth and Physical Sciences and Centre for GeoTechnologies CGT (UniSi) Via Vetri Vecchi 34, 52027, San Giovanni Valdarno (AREZZO), Italy
| | - C Viti
- Department of Physical Science, Earth and Environment, DSFTA (UniSi), V. Laterina 8, I-53100 Siena, Italy.
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Pacella A, Tomatis M, Viti C, Bloise A, Arrizza L, Ballirano P, Turci F. Thermal inertization of amphibole asbestos modulates Fe topochemistry and surface reactivity. J Hazard Mater 2020; 398:123119. [PMID: 32768844 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
This study discloses the morphological and chemical-structural modifications that occur during thermal degradation of amphibole asbestos. Low-iron tremolite and iron-rich crocidolite were heated at temperatures ranging from r.t. to 1200 °C. Heating promoted a complex sequence of iron oxidation, migration and/or clustering and, finally, the formation of brittle fibrous pseudomorphs consisting of newly formed minerals and amorphous nanophases. The effects of the thermal modifications on toxicologically relevant asbestos reactivity were evaluated by quantifying carbon- and oxygen-centred, namely hydroxyl (OH), radicals. Heating did not alter carbon radicals, but largely affected oxygen-centred radical yields. At low temperature, reactivity of both amphiboles decreased. At 1200 °C, tremolite structural breakdown was achieved and the reactivity was further reduced by migration of reactive iron ions into the more stable TO4 tetrahedra of the newly formed pyroxene(s). Differently, crocidolite breakdown at 1000 °C induced the formation of hematite, Fe-rich pyroxene, cristobalite, and abundant amorphous material and restored radical reactivity. Our finding suggests that thermally treated asbestos and its breakdown products still share some toxicologically relevant properties with pristine fibre. Asbestos inertization studies should consider morphology and surface reactivity, beyond crystallinity, when proving that a thermally inactivated asbestos-containing material is safe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Pacella
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra and Laboratorio Rettorale Fibre e Particolato Inorganico, Sapienza Università di Roma, P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Maura Tomatis
- "G. Scansetti" Center for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates and Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Torino, V. P. Giuria 7, I-10125, Turin, Italy
| | - Cecilia Viti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell'Ambiente, Università di Siena, V. Laterina 8, I-53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Andrea Bloise
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Ecologia e Scienze della Terra, Università della Calabria, V. P. Bucci, I-87036, Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Arrizza
- Centro di Microscopie, Università degli Studi dell'Aquila, Via Vetoio (Coppito 1, Edificio "Renato Ricamo"), 67100, Coppito, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Paolo Ballirano
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra and Laboratorio Rettorale Fibre e Particolato Inorganico, Sapienza Università di Roma, P.le A. Moro 5, I-00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Francesco Turci
- "G. Scansetti" Center for Studies on Asbestos and Other Toxic Particulates and Dipartimento di Chimica, Università di Torino, V. P. Giuria 7, I-10125, Turin, Italy.
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Cesare B, Nestola F, Johnson T, Mugnaioli E, Della Ventura G, Peruzzo L, Bartoli O, Viti C, Erickson T. Garnet, the archetypal cubic mineral, grows tetragonal. Sci Rep 2019; 9:14672. [PMID: 31605020 PMCID: PMC6789019 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-51214-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Garnet is the archetypal cubic mineral, occurring in a wide variety of rock types in Earth’s crust and upper mantle. Owing to its prevalence, durability and compositional diversity, garnet is used to investigate a broad range of geological processes. Although birefringence is a characteristic feature of rare Ca–Fe3+ garnet and Ca-rich hydrous garnet, the optical anisotropy that has occasionally been documented in common (that is, anhydrous Ca–Fe2+–Mg–Mn) garnet is generally attributed to internal strain of the cubic structure. Here we show that common garnet with a non-cubic (tetragonal) crystal structure is much more widespread than previously thought, occurring in low-temperature, high-pressure metamorphosed basalts (blueschists) from subduction zones and in low-grade metamorphosed mudstones (phyllites and schists) from orogenic belts. Indeed, a non-cubic symmetry appears to be typical of common garnet that forms at low temperatures (<450 °C), where it has a characteristic Fe–Ca-rich composition with very low Mg contents. We propose that, in most cases, garnet does not initially grow cubic. Our discovery indicates that the crystal chemistry and thermodynamic properties of garnet at low-temperature need to be re-assessed, with potential consequences for the application of garnet as an investigative tool in a broad range of geological environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Cesare
- Dipartimento di Geoscienze, Università degli Studi di Padova, via Gradenigo 6, 35131, Padova, Italy.
| | - F Nestola
- Dipartimento di Geoscienze, Università degli Studi di Padova, via Gradenigo 6, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - T Johnson
- School of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, 6102, Perth, Australia
| | - E Mugnaioli
- Center for Nanotechnology Innovation@NEST, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Piazza San Silvestro 12, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - G Della Ventura
- Dipartimento di Scienze, Università di Roma Tre, Largo San Leonardo Murialdo 1, 00146, Rome, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Via Enrico Fermi 40, 00044, Frascati, Italy
| | - L Peruzzo
- Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse, CNR, via Gradenigo 6, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - O Bartoli
- Dipartimento di Geoscienze, Università degli Studi di Padova, via Gradenigo 6, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - C Viti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell'Ambiente, Università di Siena, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - T Erickson
- Jacobs - JETS, NASA Johnson Space Center, Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science Division, Mailcode XI3, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, TX, 77058, USA
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Simone M, Vesperini E, Viti C, Camaioni A, Lepanto L, Raso F. Intraparotid facial nerve schwannoma: two case reports and a review of the literature. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital 2019; 38:73-77. [PMID: 29756618 DOI: 10.14639/0392-100x-1170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2016] [Accepted: 10/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARY Schwannomas are rare benign tumours that arise from Schwann cells. The most known and studied is the intracranial vestibular schwannoma, even if it is not the most frequent. More often schwannomas arise from peripheral sensitive nerves, and the vagous is most involved among the cranial nerves. Intraparotid schwannomas account for just 10% of all facial involvement, so they are an extremely rare localisation. At present, there are less than 100 cases described in the literature. We performed a retrospective analysis of parotidectomy in two Italian hospitals and present two cases of intraparotid schwannoma and a review of the literature. In the first case, we performed a parotidectomy with a stripping of tumour from the nerve. In the other case, a hypoglossal-facial neurorrhaphy was performed. Follow-up was 24 months in the first (House-Brackmann II degree in temporal-ocular and III in facial-cervical branches) and 30 months in the second case (House-Brackmann III degree in both temporal-ocular and facial-cervical branches). Preoperative diagnosis of facial nerve schwannoma is a challenge; however, it is extremely important since post-operative palsy is common and often higher grade. Unfortunately, schwannoma has similar radiologic finding as more common pleomorphic adenoma and often FNAC is not helpful. Due to its rarity and benign nature, there is debate in the literature on the need for surgical removal. Wait-and-see is a valid option, but may could give problems in secondary surgery. Stripping or near-total removal can be useful in cases of limited involvement of the nerve. Neurorrhaphy can provide good functional results when facial sacrifice is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Simone
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital, Roma, Italy
| | - E Vesperini
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital, Roma, Italy
| | - C Viti
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital, Roma, Italy
| | - A Camaioni
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital, Roma, Italy
| | - L Lepanto
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Garibaldi Hospital, Palermo, Italy
| | - F Raso
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Garibaldi Hospital, Palermo, Italy
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11
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Vasta V, Daghio M, Cappucci A, Buccioni A, Serra A, Viti C, Mele M. Invited review: Plant polyphenols and rumen microbiota responsible for fatty acid biohydrogenation, fiber digestion, and methane emission: Experimental evidence and methodological approaches. J Dairy Sci 2019; 102:3781-3804. [PMID: 30904293 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2018-14985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 162] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.4] [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: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 01/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The interest of the scientific community in the effects of plant polyphenols on animal nutrition is increasing. These compounds, in fact, are ubiquitous in the plant kingdom, especially in some spontaneous plants exploited as feeding resources alternative to cultivated crops and in several agro-industry by-products. Polyphenols interact with rumen microbiota, affecting carbohydrate fermentation, protein degradation, and lipid metabolism. Some of these aspects have been largely reviewed, especially for tannins; however, less information is available about the direct effect of polyphenols on the composition of rumen microbiota. In the present paper, we review the most recent literature about the effect of plant polyphenols on rumen microbiota responsible for unsaturated fatty acid biohydrogenation, fiber digestion, and methane production, taking into consideration the advances in microbiota analysis achieved in the last 10 yr. Key aspects, such as sample collection, sample storage, DNA extraction, and the main phylogenetic markers used in the reconstruction of microbial community structure, are examined. Furthermore, a summary of the new high-throughput methods based on next generation sequencing is reviewed. Several effects can be associated with dietary polyphenols. Polyphenols are able to depress or modulate the biohydrogenation of unsaturated fatty acids by a perturbation of ruminal microbiota composition. In particular, condensed tannins have an inhibitory effect on biohydrogenation, whereas hydrolyzable tannins seem to have a modulatory effect on biohydrogenation. With regard to fiber digestion, data from literature are quite consistent about a general depressive effect of polyphenols on gram-positive fibrolytic bacteria and ciliate protozoa, resulting in a reduction of volatile fatty acid production (mostly acetate molar production). Methane production is also usually reduced when tannins are included in the diet of ruminants, probably as a consequence of the inhibition of fiber digestion. However, some evidence suggests that hydrolyzable tannins may reduce methane emission by directly interacting with rumen microbiota without affecting fiber digestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Vasta
- Food Scientist, viale delle Alpi 40, 90144, Palermo, Italy
| | - M Daghio
- Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Agro-Alimentari e dell'Ambiente, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy
| | - A Cappucci
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - A Buccioni
- Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Agro-Alimentari e dell'Ambiente, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy
| | - A Serra
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - C Viti
- Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Agro-Alimentari e dell'Ambiente, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy
| | - M Mele
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy; Centro di Ricerche Agro-ambientali "E. Avanzi," University of Pisa, Via Vecchia di Masrina, 6, 56100 Pisa, Italy.
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Bernardini G, Leone G, Millucci L, Consumi M, Braconi D, Spiga O, Galderisi S, Marzocchi B, Viti C, Giorgetti G, Lupetti P, Magnani A, Santucci A. Homogentisic acid induces morphological and mechanical aberration of ochronotic cartilage in alkaptonuria. J Cell Physiol 2018; 234:6696-6708. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.27416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Bernardini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia Università degli Studi di Siena Siena Italy
| | - Gemma Leone
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia Università degli Studi di Siena Siena Italy
| | - Lia Millucci
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia Università degli Studi di Siena Siena Italy
| | - Marco Consumi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia Università degli Studi di Siena Siena Italy
| | - Daniela Braconi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia Università degli Studi di Siena Siena Italy
| | - Ottavia Spiga
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia Università degli Studi di Siena Siena Italy
| | - Silvia Galderisi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia Università degli Studi di Siena Siena Italy
| | - Barbara Marzocchi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia Università degli Studi di Siena Siena Italy
- UOC Patologia Clinica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese Siena Italy
| | - Cecilia Viti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell'Ambiente Università degli Studi di Siena Siena Italy
| | - Giovanna Giorgetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell'Ambiente Università degli Studi di Siena Siena Italy
| | - Pietro Lupetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita Università degli Studi di Siena Siena Italy
| | - Agnese Magnani
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia Università degli Studi di Siena Siena Italy
| | - Annalisa Santucci
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia Università degli Studi di Siena Siena Italy
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Millucci L, Bernardini G, Spreafico A, Orlandini M, Braconi D, Laschi M, Geminiani M, Lupetti P, Giorgetti G, Viti C, Frediani B, Marzocchi B, Santucci A. Histological and Ultrastructural Characterization of Alkaptonuric Tissues. Calcif Tissue Int 2017; 101:50-64. [PMID: 28271171 DOI: 10.1007/s00223-017-0260-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [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: 11/10/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Alkaptonuria (AKU) is a hereditary disorder that results from altered structure and function of homogentisate 1,2 dioxygenase (HGD). This enzyme, predominantly produced by liver and kidney, is responsible for the breakdown of homogentisic acid (HGA), an intermediate in the tyrosine degradation pathway. A deficient HGD activity causes HGA levels to rise systemically. The disease is clinically characterized by homogentisic aciduria, bluish-black discoloration of connective tissues (ochronosis) and joint arthropathy. Additional manifestations are cardiovascular abnormalities, renal, urethral and prostate calculi and scleral and ear involvement. While the radiological aspect of ochronotic spondyloarthropathy is known, there are only few data regarding an exhaustive ultrastructural and histologic study of different tissues in AKU. Moreover, an in-depth analysis of tissues from patients of different ages, having varied symptoms, is currently lacking. A complete microscopic and ultrastructural analysis of different AKU tissues, coming from six differently aged patients, is here presented thus significantly contributing to a more comprehensive knowledge of this ultra-rare pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Millucci
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Giulia Bernardini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Adriano Spreafico
- Immunoematologia Trasfusionale, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Viale Bracci, Siena, Italy
| | - Maurizio Orlandini
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Daniela Braconi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Marcella Laschi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Michela Geminiani
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Pietro Lupetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Siena, via A. Moro 2, Siena, Italy
| | - Giovanna Giorgetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Siena, Strada Laterina 8, Siena, Italy
| | - Cecilia Viti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Fisiche, della Terra e dell'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Siena, Strada Laterina 8, Siena, Italy
| | - Bruno Frediani
- Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e Neuroscienze, Università degli Studi di Siena, Viale Bracci, Siena, Italy
| | - Barbara Marzocchi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy
- U. O. C. Patologia Clinica, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, Viale Bracci, Siena, Italy
| | - Annalisa Santucci
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Via Aldo Moro 2, 53100, Siena, Italy.
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Millucci L, Giorgetti G, Viti C, Ghezzi L, Gambassi S, Braconi D, Marzocchi B, Paffetti A, Lupetti P, Bernardini G, Orlandini M, Santucci A. Chondroptosis in alkaptonuric cartilage. J Cell Physiol 2015; 230:1148-57. [PMID: 25336110 PMCID: PMC5024069 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.24850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/14/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Alkaptonuria (AKU) is a rare genetic disease that affects the entire joint. Current standard of treatment is palliative and little is known about AKU physiopathology. Chondroptosis, a peculiar type of cell death in cartilage, has been so far reported to occur in osteoarthritis, a rheumatic disease that shares some features with AKU. In the present work, we wanted to assess if chondroptosis might also occur in AKU. Electron microscopy was used to detect the morphological changes of chondrocytes in damaged cartilage distinguishing apoptosis from its variant termed chondroptosis. We adopted histological observation together with Scanning Electron Microscopy and Transmission Electron Microscopy to evaluate morphological cell changes in AKU chondrocytes. Lipid peroxidation in AKU cartilage was detected by fluorescence microscopy. Using the above-mentioned techniques, we performed a morphological analysis and assessed that AKU chondrocytes undergo phenotypic changes and lipid oxidation, resulting in a progressive loss of articular cartilage structure and function, showing typical features of chondroptosis. To the best of our knowledge, AKU is the second chronic pathology, following osteoarthritis, where chondroptosis has been documented. Our results indicate that Golgi complex plays an important role in the apoptotic process of AKU chondrocytes and suggest a contribution of chondroptosis in AKU pathogenesis. These findings also confirm a similarity between osteoarthritis and AKU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Millucci
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Chimica e Farmacia, Università degli Studi di Siena, Siena, Italy
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15
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Buccioni A, Pauselli M, Viti C, Minieri S, Pallara G, Roscini V, Rapaccini S, Marinucci MT, Lupi P, Conte G, Mele M. Milk fatty acid composition, rumen microbial population, and animal performances in response to diets rich in linoleic acid supplemented with chestnut or quebracho tannins in dairy ewes. J Dairy Sci 2014; 98:1145-56. [PMID: 25434333 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2014-8651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [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: 07/22/2014] [Accepted: 10/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate milk fatty acid (FA) profile, animal performance, and rumen microbial population in response to diets containing soybean oil supplemented or not with chestnut and quebracho tannins in dairy ewes. Eighteen Comisana ewes at 122±6 d in milking were allotted into 3 experimental groups. Diets were characterized by chopped grass hay administered ad libitum and by 800 g/head and day of 3 experimental concentrates containing 84.5 g of soybean oil/kg of dry matter (DM) and 52.8 g/kg of DM of bentonite (control diet), chestnut tannin extract (CHT diet), or quebracho tannin extract (QUE diet). The trial lasted 4 wk. Milk yield was recorded daily, and milk composition and blood parameters were analyzed weekly. At the end of the experiment, samples of rumen fluid were collected to analyze pH, volatile fatty acid profile, and the relative proportions of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens and Butyrivibrio proteoclasticus in the rumen microbial population. Hepatic functionality, milk yield, and gross composition were not affected by tannin extracts, whereas milk FA composition was characterized by significant changes in the concentration of linoleic acid (CHT +2.77% and QUE +9.23%), vaccenic acid (CHT +7.07% and QUE +13.88%), rumenic acid (CHT -1.88% and QUE +24.24%), stearic acid (CHT + 8.71% and QUE -11.45%), and saturated fatty acids (CHT -0.47% and QUE -3.38%). These differences were probably due to the ability of condensed versus hydrolyzable tannins to interfere with rumen microbial metabolism, as indirectly confirmed by changes in the relative proportions of B. fibrisolvens and B. proteoclasticus populations and by changes in the molar proportions of volatile fatty acids. The effect of the CHT diet on the milk FA profile and microbial species considered in this trial was intermediate between that of QUE and the control diet, suggesting a differential effect of condensed and hydrolyzable tannins on rumen microbes. Compared with control animals, the presence of B. fibrisolvens increased about 3 times in ewes fed CHT and about 5 times in animals fed QUE. In contrast, the abundance of B. proteoclasticus decreased about 5- and 15-fold in rumen liquor of ewes fed CHT and QUE diets, respectively. The use of soybean oil and a practical dose of QUE or CHT extract in the diet of dairy ewes can be an efficient strategy to improve the nutritional quality of milk.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Buccioni
- Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Agro-alimentari e dell'Ambiente, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy.
| | - M Pauselli
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie Alimentari ed Ambientali, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - C Viti
- Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Agro-alimentari e dell'Ambiente, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy
| | - S Minieri
- Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Agro-alimentari e dell'Ambiente, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy
| | - G Pallara
- Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Agro-alimentari e dell'Ambiente, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy
| | - V Roscini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie Alimentari ed Ambientali, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
| | - S Rapaccini
- Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Agro-alimentari e dell'Ambiente, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy
| | - M Trabalza Marinucci
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, University of Perugia, Via S. Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy
| | - P Lupi
- Dipartimento di Scienze delle Produzioni Agro-alimentari e dell'Ambiente, University of Florence, Piazzale delle Cascine 18, 50144 Firenze, Italy
| | - G Conte
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - M Mele
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Agro-ambientali, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy
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16
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Moroni B, Viti C, Cappelletti D. Exposure vs toxicity levels of airborne quartz, metal and carbon particles in cast iron foundries. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2014; 24:42-50. [PMID: 23385294 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2013.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2012] [Accepted: 12/04/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Aerosol dust samples and quartz raw materials from different working stations in foundry plants were characterized in order to assess the health risk in this working environment. Samples were analysed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy coupled with image analysis and microanalysis, and by cathodoluminescence spectroscopy. In addition, the concentration and the solubility degree of Fe and other metals of potential health effect (Mn, Zn and Pb) in the bulk samples were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). Overall, the results indicate substantial changes in quartz crystal structure and texture when passing from the raw material to the airborne dust, which include lattice defects, non-bridging oxygen hole centres and contamination of quartz grains by metal and/or graphite particles. All these aspects point towards the relevance of surface properties on reactivity. Exposure doses have been estimated based on surface area, and compared with threshold levels resulting from toxicology. The possible synergistic effects of concomitant exposure to inhalable magnetite, quartz and/or graphite particles in the same working environment have been properly remarked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Moroni
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale, University of Perugia, Via Duranti 93, Perugia, Italy
| | - Cecilia Viti
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, University of Siena, Via Laterina 8, Siena, Italy
| | - David Cappelletti
- 1] Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale, University of Perugia, Via Duranti 93, Perugia, Italy [2] SMAArt Research Center, Dipartimento di Chimica, University of Perugia, Via Elce di Sotto 8, Perugia, Italy
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17
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Damiani V, Camaioni A, Viti C, Scirè AS, Morpurgo G, Gregori D. A single-centre, before-after study of the short- and long-term efficacy of Narivent(®) in the treatment of nasal congestion. J Int Med Res 2013. [PMID: 23206477 DOI: 10.1177/030006051204000534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Nasal congestion is a common symptom in allergic and nonallergic rhinitis, rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis. The present study evaluated the clinical effectiveness of Narivent(®), an osmotically-acting medical device with anti oedematous and anti-inflammatory effects, in nasal congestion. METHODS A single-centre, prospective study with a pre- post design and consecutive patient enrolment was conducted in an Italian otolaryngology department. Patients with persistent nasal congestion were allocated to treatment groups as follows: group 1 (n = 36) treated for 7 days; group 2 (n = 56) treated for 30 days. In each group, patients received two puffs of Narivent(®) into each nostril twice daily. Symptom severity was assessed subjectively on a 0-10 visual analogue scale, and objectively by the presence/absence of signs and symptoms. Differences in subjective and objective severity measures before and after treatment were compared using Wilcoxon's signed rank test. RESULTS All symptoms and objective scores improved after treatment with Narivent(®) for 7 or 30 days and no adverse effects were reported by the patients in either group. CONCLUSION Narivent(®) appears to be efficacious in treating nasal congestion over a 7- or a 30-day period.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Damiani
- Ear, Nose and Throat Department, San Giovanni Addolorata Hospital, Rome, Italy
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18
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Tesei T, Collettini C, Carpenter BM, Viti C, Marone C. Frictional strength and healing behavior of phyllosilicate-rich faults. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/2012jb009204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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19
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Santopolo L, Marchi E, Frediani L, Decorosi F, Viti C, Giovannetti L. A novel approach combining the Calgary Biofilm Device and Phenotype MicroArray for the characterization of the chemical sensitivity of bacterial biofilms. Biofouling 2012; 28:1023-1032. [PMID: 23004019 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2012.726352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
A rapid method for screening the metabolic susceptibility of biofilms to toxic compounds was developed by combining the Calgary Biofilm Device (MBEC device) and Phenotype MicroArray (PM) technology. The method was developed using Pseudomonas alcaliphila 34, a Cr(VI)-hyper-resistant bacterium, as the test organism. P. alcaliphila produced a robust biofilm after incubation for 16 h, reaching the maximum value after incubation for 24 h (9.4 × 10(6) ± 3.3 × 10(6) CFU peg(-1)). In order to detect the metabolic activity of cells in the biofilm, dye E (5×) and menadione sodium bisulphate (100 μM) were selected for redox detection chemistry, because they produced a high colorimetric yield in response to bacterial metabolism (340.4 ± 6.9 Omnilog Arbitrary Units). This combined approach, which avoids the limitations of traditional plate counts, was validated by testing the susceptibility of P. alcaliphila biofilm to 22 toxic compounds. For each compound the concentration level that significantly lowered the metabolic activity of the biofilm was identified. Chemical sensitivity analysis of the planktonic culture was also performed, allowing comparison of the metabolic susceptibility patterns of biofilm and planktonic cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Santopolo
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Agrarie - sezione di Microbiologia and Laboratorio Genexpress, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy
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20
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Tremaroli V, Fedi S, Tamburini S, Viti C, Tatti E, Ceri H, Turner RJ, Zannoni D. A histidine-kinase cheA gene of Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligens KF707 not only has a key role in chemotaxis but also affects biofilm formation and cell metabolism. Biofouling 2011; 27:33-46. [PMID: 21108067 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2010.537099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
A histidine-kinase cheA gene in Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes KF707 plays a central role in the regulation of metabolic responses as well as in chemotaxis. Non-chemotactic mutants harboring insertions into the cheA gene were screened for their ability to form biofilms in the Calgary biofilm device. Notably, ≥95% decrease in the number of cells attached to the polystyrene surface was observed in cheA mutants compared to the KF707 wild-type biofilm phenotype. The ability to form mature biofilms was restored to wild-type levels, providing functional copies of the KF707 cheA gene to the mutants. In addition, phenotype micro-arrays and proteomic analyses revealed that several basic metabolic activities and a few periplasmic binding proteins of cheA mutant cells differed compared to those of wild-type cells. These results are interpreted as evidence of a strong integration between chemotactic and metabolic pathways in the process of biofilm development by P. pseudoalcaligenes KF707.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Tremaroli
- Department of Biological Sciences & Biofilm Research Group, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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21
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Collettini C, Niemeijer A, Viti C, Marone C. Fault zone fabric and fault weakness. Nature 2009; 462:907-10. [DOI: 10.1038/nature08585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 389] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2009] [Accepted: 10/12/2009] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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22
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Micheletti E, Colica G, Viti C, Tamagnini P, De Philippis R. Selectivity in the heavy metal removal by exopolysaccharide-producing cyanobacteria. J Appl Microbiol 2008; 105:88-94. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.03728.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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23
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Camaioni A, Loreti A, Damiani V, Bellioni M, Passali FM, Viti C. Anterolateral thigh cutaneous flap vs. radial forearm free-flap in oral and oropharyngeal reconstruction: an analysis of 48 flaps. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital 2008; 28:7-12. [PMID: 18533548 PMCID: PMC2640066] [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] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2007] [Accepted: 10/04/2007] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Microvascular free-flaps have been in clinical use for nearly 3 decades becoming the gold standard in oral and oropharyngeal reconstruction. In this study, a comparison has been made between the radial forearm fasciocutaneous flap with the thinned anterolateral thigh cutaneous flap (tALT), showing the advantage of the anterolateral thigh cutaneous flap in oral and oropharyngeal reconstruction. Between January 2003 and January 2007, 48 reconstructions were performed in patients submitted to surgery for oral and oropharyngeal carcinoma using, in 17 cases, a radial forearm fasciocutaneous flap and, in 31, an anterolateral thigh cutaneous flap. In patients treated with the radial forearm fasciocutaneous flap, results showed 94.1% flap survival; in cases treated with the anterolateral thigh cutaneous flap, 93.5% flap survival (p < 0.9). Functional results, at receiving site, were comparable in both groups. Functional results, at donor site, were less successful in the radial forearm fasciocutaneous flap group, with permanent forearm movement impairment in 35.3% of cases; in the anterolateral thigh cutaneous flap group, only transitory gait impairment occurred in 12.9% of patients. In conclusion, in our experience, the thinned anterolateral thigh cutaneous flap is comparable to radial forearm fasciocutaneous flap in terms of functional results at receiving site, but, having no limitation in availability of donor tissue, it allows a more extended resection of the tumour. Moreover, the donor site can be closed primarily with only an inconspicuous curvilinear scar left over the thigh and with significantly reduced functional impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Camaioni
- ENT Departmen, "San Giovanni - Addolorata" Hospital, Rome, Italy.
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24
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Viti C, Logar M, Mellini M, Mugnaioli E. Additional reflections and polytypic sequences in polygonal serpentine. Acta Crystallogr A 2005. [DOI: 10.1107/s0108767305097941] [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: 11/10/2022] Open
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25
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Granchi L, Ganucci D, Viti C, Giovannetti L, Vincenzini M. Saccharomyces cerevisiae biodiversity in spontaneous commercial fermentations of grape musts with 'adequate' and 'inadequate' assimilable-nitrogen content. Lett Appl Microbiol 2003; 36:54-8. [PMID: 12485343 DOI: 10.1046/j.1472-765x.2003.01263.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [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: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
AIM To evaluate whether intraspecific diversity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in wine fermentations is affected by initial assimilable-nitrogen content. METHODS AND RESULTS Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolates from two spontaneous commercial wine fermentations started with adequate and inadequate nitrogen amounts were characterized by mitochondrial DNA restriction analysis. Several strains occurred in each fermentation, two strains, but not the same ones, being predominant at frequencies of about 30%. No significant differences were detected by comparing the biodiversity indices of the two fermentations. Cluster analysis demonstrated that the strain distribution was independent of nitrogen content, the two pairs of closely related dominant strains grouping into clusters at low similarity. CONCLUSIONS The genetic variability of S. cerevisiae in wine fermentations seemed not to depend on the nitrogen availability in must. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Nitrogen content did not affect the genetic diversity but may have induced a 'selection effect' on S. cerevisiae strains dominating wine fermentations, with possible consequences on wine properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Granchi
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie Agrarie, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Firenze, Italy.
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26
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Borgia I, Brunetti B, Mariani I, Mellini M, Sgamellotti A, Viti C. Nanostructured thin metallic films in the Renaissance Italian pottery. Acta Crystallogr A 2000. [DOI: 10.1107/s0108767300024636] [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: 11/10/2022] Open
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Abstract
When the type strains and other strains of the six currently defined species of the genus Ectothiorhodospira were examined by DNA-DNA reassociation and RFLP of 16S/23S rDNA (ribotype), only four genospecies could be found. The possibility of defining taxonomically meaningful species corresponding to these four genospecies was investigated by combining DNA relatedness and ribotype data with other genotypic and phenotypic characters already described in the literature, an approach known as polyphasic taxonomy. Following this comparison, the type strain and another strain of Ectothiorhodospira vacuolata were found to be very similar to the type strain of Ectothiorhodospira shaposhnikovii and have been transferred to this latter species. Also, the type strain of Ectothiorhodospira marismortui and another previously unidentified strain were found to be very similar to the type strain of Ectothiorhodospira mobilis and have been transferred to this latter species. Due to the limited degree of reciprocal DNA relatedness, strains belonging either to Ectothiorhodospira marina or to Ectothiorhodospira haloalkaliphila are still considered as belonging to separate species, even though they show a remarkable phenotypic similarity. This revision has led to the delineation of only four species in the genus Ectothiorhodospira, namely E. mobilis, E. shaposhnikovii, E. marina and E. haloalkaliphila. E. vacuolata is recognized as a junior synonym of E. shaposhnikovii and E. marismortui as a junior synonym of E. mobilis.
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28
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Viti C, Ventura S, Lotti F, Capolino E, Tomaselli L, Giovannetti L. Genotypic diversity and typing of cyanobacterial strains of the genus Arthrospira by very sensitive total DNA restriction profile analysis. Res Microbiol 1997; 148:605-11. [PMID: 9765845 DOI: 10.1016/s0923-2508(97)88084-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Arthrospira maxima and A. platensis are two species of cyanobacteria cultivated and sold as health food, animal feed and source of food additives and fine chemicals. The genotypic diversity of several strains attributed to these two species on the basis of morphological criteria was investigated using very sensitive total DNA restriction profile analysis. The restriction profiles were obtained after sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining. The unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic averages applied to the matrix of Dice similarity coefficient values clustered the electropherograms of the strains in two well-separated genotypic groups. These clusters corresponded to those obtained with morphological criteria. The molecular approach used was also able to type the examined strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Viti
- Centro di Studio dei Microrganismi Autotrofi, CNR, Università di Firenze, Italy
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29
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Viti C, Giovannetti L, Granchi L, Ventura S. Species attribution and strain typing of Oenococcus oeni (formerly Leuconostoc oenos) with restriction endonuclease fingerprints. Res Microbiol 1996; 147:651-60. [PMID: 9157492 DOI: 10.1016/0923-2508(96)84022-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
In several wines, malolactic fermentation is required to improve the organoleptic characters and to stabilize the final product. In order to establish a controlled malolactic fermentation in wine, easy identification and sensitive typing of strains of Oenococcus oeni (new name of the malolactic bacterium Leuconostoc oenos) used as starter cultures are necessary. To accomplish these tasks, several strains of Oenococcus oeni isolated from wines of the Chianti region (Italy), along with reference strains and strains of L. mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides, L. carnosum, L. fallax, L. pseudomesenteroides, L. lactis and Weisella paramesenteroides, were studied with RFLP of ribosomal genes and ultrasensitive total DNA restriction pattern analysis performed on polyacrylamide gel. With each of four restriction endonucleases used, identical restriction profiles of ribosomal genes were obtained for all strains of O. oeni. These ribopatterns, being strongly dissimilar to profiles of the other lactic acid bacteria tested, appear to be well suited for the attribution of wine lactic acid bacteria to the species O. oeni. Cluster analysis performed on two total DNA restriction profile data sets showed that the species O. oeni possesses a good degree of genomic homogeneity. Very sensitive typing of strains of O. oeni was obtained with total DNA restriction profiles. The potential of an integrated approach using restriction profiles for species assignment and typing of selected malolactic bacteria is demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Viti
- Centro di Studio dei Microrganismi Autotrofi, CNR, Firenze Italy
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30
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Dodoli D, Del Nevo M, Fiumalbi C, Iaia TE, Cristaudo A, Comba P, Viti C, Battista G. Environmental household exposures to asbestos and occurrence of pleural mesothelioma. Am J Ind Med 1992; 21:681-7. [PMID: 1609814 DOI: 10.1002/ajim.4700210508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
We reviewed the certificates of 39,650 deaths which occurred in the period 1975-1988 in Leghorn and of 45,900 in La Spezia (Italy) in the period 1958-1988. In total 262 cases have been recorded as pleural mesothelioma. The main occupational exposures occurred in the shipbuilding industry. Regarding non-occupational exposures to asbestos, 13 cases of mesothelioma were found in women who had washed the work clothes of their relatives at home; we also found other domestic uses of asbestos which were rarely or never discussed previously in the literature: six cases might be explained by the installation of fireproof or non-conductive materials in the domestic environment. These exposures probably are more frequent than realized until now.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Dodoli
- Unit of Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy
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31
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Lublin FD, Lavasa M, Viti C, Knobler RL. Suppression of acute and relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis with mitoxantrone. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 1987; 45:122-8. [PMID: 3621681 DOI: 10.1016/0090-1229(87)90118-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The effect of treatment with the antineoplastic, immunomodulatory agent mitoxantrone on the course of acute and relapsing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in the mouse has been studied. Untreated mice immunized to produce acute EAE had an 81% incidence of clinical disease and 100% incidence of pathologic disease. Mice treated with mitoxantrone at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg daily for the 10 days following immunization did not develop any clinical signs and had minimal pathologic signs of disease. A dose of 0.25 mg/kg gave an intermediate response. Untreated mice immunized for relapsing EAE had a 100% incidence of disease with an average onset of disease on Day 148. Mice treated with mitoxantrone at a dose of 0.05 mg/kg three times weekly for 12 weeks following immunization had a 67% incidence of clinical disease with a significant delay in the average onset date to Day 279. These results indicate that mitoxantrone was highly effective in suppressing development of acute EAE. Mitoxantrone delayed the onset of relapsing EAE in mice, but did not fully inhibit the eventual expression of the disease. These studies suggest that the use of cytotoxic therapies in the treatment of autoimmune diseases may require periodic cycles of therapy to block disease expression.
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