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Tefik T, Ergül RB, Osther P, Giusti G, Preminger GM, Straub M, Rassweiler JJ, Montanari E, Brehmer M, Seitz C, Grasso M, Pearle M, Proietti S, Cloutier J, Gunver MG, Nane I, Ozcan F, Traxer O. The relationship between the force applied and perceived by the surgeon during ureteral access sheath placement: ex-vivo experimental model. World J Urol 2024; 42:329. [PMID: 38753120 PMCID: PMC11098873 DOI: 10.1007/s00345-024-04982-7] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To define a peak force of insertion (PFOI) threshold for ureteral damage during ureteral access sheath (UAS) placement on an experimental ureteral orifice model. METHODS A specially designed water tank using 2 laparoscopic 5 mm ports and 2 different size (10 Fr and 8 Fr) sealing cap adaptors (SCA) as ureteral orifices was used to perform the test. A 10-12 Fr UAS was fixed to a load cell and the force of insertion (FOI) was continuously recorded with a digital force gauge.13 experts in the field of endourology who participated performed 3 UAS insertions. The FOI was recorded initially with 10 Fr followed by 8 Fr SCA. On the final insertion, the orifice was obstructed, leaving a 5 cm length to insert the UAS. The experts were asked to "Stop at the point they anticipate ureteral damage, and they would not proceed in real life". RESULTS Using 10 Fr SCA the PFOI was 2.12 ± 0.58 Newton (N) (range:1.48-3.48) while 8 Fr SCA showed a PFOI 5.76 ± 0.96 N (range:4.05-7.35). Six of the experts, said they would stop proceeding when they reached above 5.1 N. Three experts had PFOI < 5.1 N and the other 4 stated they would go with PFOIs of 5.88, 6.16, 6.69 and 7.35 N when using SCA of 8 Fr.The highest load they would stop proceeding had a PFOI of 6.09 ± 1.87 N (range: 2.53-10.74). CONCLUSION The PFOI threshold for ureteral damage inserting UAS of the experts is variable. Although FOI is a subjective perception, experience suggests that ureteral injury may occur at an average of 6.05 N perceived by surgeons' tactile feedback. In-vivo measurement of UAS PFOI may confirm a threshold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tzevat Tefik
- Department of Urology, Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
- Progress in Endourology, Technology and Research Association (PETRA), Paris, France.
| | - Rifat Burak Ergül
- Department of Urology, Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Palle Osther
- Department of Urology, Urological Research Center, Lillebælt Hospital, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Vejle, Denmark
- Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Guido Giusti
- Department of Urology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Michael Straub
- Department of Urology, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Emanuele Montanari
- Department of Urology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marianne Brehmer
- Department of Urology, Stockholm South General Hospital Stockholm, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Science, Stockholm South General Hospital Stockholm, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christian Seitz
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Michael Grasso
- Department of Urology, Phelps Hospital/Northwell Health, New York, USA
| | | | - Silvia Proietti
- Department of Urology, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy
| | - Jonathan Cloutier
- Progress in Endourology, Technology and Research Association (PETRA), Paris, France
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
| | - MGuven Gunver
- Department of Medical Statistics, Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ismet Nane
- Department of Urology, Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Faruk Ozcan
- Department of Urology, Istanbul University Istanbul Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Olivier Traxer
- Progress in Endourology, Technology and Research Association (PETRA), Paris, France
- GRC N°20, Groupe de Recherche Clinique sur la Lithiase Urinaire, Hôpital Tenon, Sorbonne Université, 75020, Paris, France
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Khalil M, Fishman A, Komorowski A, Franco I, Grasso M. Immune checkpoint inhibitors in high-grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma: Paradigm shift emphasizing organ preservation. BJUI Compass 2024; 5:490-496. [PMID: 38751949 PMCID: PMC11090768 DOI: 10.1002/bco2.335] [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] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective The aim was to evaluate the role of immune check point inhibitors (ICIs) in patients with high-grade upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC) who are managed endoscopically when nephroureterectomy (NU) is not feasible, such as in patients who are either not candidates for NU or decline extirpative surgery. Methods All patients diagnosed with high-grade UTUC and managed endoscopically between January 1996 and August 2022 were included in the study. Subsequently, patients were categorised based on their use of ICIs into group 1 (patients who did not receive ICIs) and group 2 (patients who received ICIs). Survival outcomes were assessed using Kaplan-Meier analysis, while a multivariable regression model was employed to analyse the impact of clinical characteristics on survival. Results A total of 29 patients were enrolled, with 14 in group 1 and 15 in group 2. Both groups exhibited similar demographic and disease characteristics, including multifocality, laterality and initial tumour size. The median follow-up period was 29.2 months. Notably, group 2 demonstrated significantly enhanced overall and metastasis-free survival rates compared to group 1. At 47.8 months, the overall survival rate was 0% (all patients died) in group 1, whereas it was 85.7% in group 2. Similarly, the metastasis-free survival rate was 0% (all patients had metastatic disease) in group 1 at 40.6 months, whereas it reached 78.0% in group 2. The multivariable analysis indicated a correlation between ICI usage and improved survival outcomes, with a hazard ratio of 0.002. Conclusion Utilisation of adjuvant ICIs in the setting of endoscopically treated patients with high-grade UTUC is associated with significantly improved survival rates. ICIs should be considered in this patient population, however, more studies with larger sample size are warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahmoud Khalil
- Department of UrologyPhelps Hospital, Northwell HealthSleepy HollowNew YorkUSA
- Department of UrologyAin Shams UniversityCairoEgypt
| | - Andrew Fishman
- Department of UrologyPhelps Hospital, Northwell HealthSleepy HollowNew YorkUSA
| | - Anna Komorowski
- Department of Hematology and Medical OncologyPhelps Hospital, Northwell HealthSleepy HollowNew YorkUSA
| | - Israel Franco
- Department of UrologyYale School of MedicineNew HavenConnecticutUSA
| | - Michael Grasso
- Department of UrologyPhelps Hospital, Northwell HealthSleepy HollowNew YorkUSA
- Department of UrologyNew York Medical CollegeValhallaNew YorkUSA
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Ramsey JR, Shelton PM, Heiss TK, Olinares PDB, Vostal LE, Soileau H, Grasso M, Casebeer SW, Adaniya S, Miller M, Sun S, Huggins DJ, Myers RW, Chait BT, Vinogradova EV, Kapoor TM. Using a Function-First "Scout Fragment"-Based Approach to Develop Allosteric Covalent Inhibitors of Conformationally Dynamic Helicase Mechanoenzymes. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:62-67. [PMID: 38134034 PMCID: PMC10958666 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c10581] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Helicases, classified into six superfamilies, are mechanoenzymes that utilize energy derived from ATP hydrolysis to remodel DNA and RNA substrates. These enzymes have key roles in diverse cellular processes, such as translation, ribosome assembly, and genome maintenance. Helicases with essential functions in certain cancer cells have been identified, and helicases expressed by many viruses are required for their pathogenicity. Therefore, helicases are important targets for chemical probes and therapeutics. However, it has been very challenging to develop chemical inhibitors for helicases, enzymes with high conformational dynamics. We envisioned that electrophilic "scout fragments", which have been used in chemical proteomic studies, could be leveraged to develop covalent inhibitors of helicases. We adopted a function-first approach, combining enzymatic assays with enantiomeric probe pairs and mass spectrometry, to develop a covalent inhibitor that selectively targets an allosteric site in SARS-CoV-2 nsp13, a superfamily-1 helicase. Further, we demonstrate that scout fragments inhibit the activity of two human superfamily-2 helicases, BLM and WRN, involved in genome maintenance. Together, our findings suggest an approach to discover covalent inhibitor starting points and druggable allosteric sites in conformationally dynamic mechanoenzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared R. Ramsey
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, New York, NY 10021, United States
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Patrick M.M Shelton
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Tyler K. Heiss
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Paul Dominic B. Olinares
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Lauren E. Vostal
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, New York, NY 10021, United States
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Heather Soileau
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, New York, NY 10021, United States
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Michael Grasso
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Sara W. Casebeer
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Stephanie Adaniya
- Laboratory of Chemical Immunology and Proteomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Michael Miller
- Sanders Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Shan Sun
- Sanders Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - David J. Huggins
- Sanders Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, New York, NY 10065, United States
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, United States
| | - Robert W. Myers
- Sanders Tri-Institutional Therapeutics Discovery Institute, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Brian T. Chait
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Ekaterina V. Vinogradova
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, New York, NY 10021, United States
- Laboratory of Chemical Immunology and Proteomics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Tarun M. Kapoor
- Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology, New York, NY 10021, United States
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, United States
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Ramsey JR, Shelton PMM, Heiss TK, Olinares PDB, Vostal LE, Soileau H, Grasso M, Warrington S, Adaniya S, Miller M, Sun S, Huggins DJ, Myers RW, Chait BT, Vinogradova EV, Kapoor TM. Using a function-first 'scout fragment'-based approach to develop allosteric covalent inhibitors of conformationally dynamic helicase mechanoenzymes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.25.559391. [PMID: 37808863 PMCID: PMC10557574 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.25.559391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Helicases, classified into six superfamilies, are mechanoenzymes that utilize energy derived from ATP hydrolysis to remodel DNA and RNA substrates. These enzymes have key roles in diverse cellular processes, such as genome replication and maintenance, ribosome assembly and translation. Helicases with essential functions only in certain cancer cells have been identified and helicases expressed by certain viruses are required for their pathogenicity. As a result, helicases are important targets for chemical probes and therapeutics. However, it has been very challenging to develop selective chemical inhibitors for helicases, enzymes with highly dynamic conformations. We envisioned that electrophilic 'scout fragments', which have been used for chemical proteomic based profiling, could be leveraged to develop covalent inhibitors of helicases. We adopted a function-first approach, combining enzymatic assays with enantiomeric probe pairs and mass spectrometry, to develop a covalent inhibitor that selectively targets an allosteric site in SARS-CoV-2 nsp13, a superfamily-1 helicase. Further, we demonstrate that scout fragments inhibit the activity of two human superfamily-2 helicases, BLM and WRN, involved in genome maintenance. Together, our findings suggest a covalent inhibitor discovery approach to target helicases and potentially other conformationally dynamic mechanoenzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Grasso
- Department of Urology, New York Medical College, Sleepy Hollow, NY, USA
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Rossmann C, van Dale D, Rados-Krnel S, Kylanen M, Lewtak K, Grasso M, Tortone C, Ragazzoni P, Costa L, Maassen A. Promoting implementation of “Good and Best Practices” through Health Promotion and Prevention Registries. Eur J Public Health 2022. [PMCID: PMC9593913 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckac129.444] [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] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Health promotion and disease prevention programme registries can play an important role in increasing transparency of “good/ best Practices” and promoting their implementation. In the EU, there are different approaches to how registries seek to support the implementation of practices. However, there is limited knowledge of the extent to which there are informative differences or overlaps in the mechanisms chosen for accreditation, capacity building and implementation. This presentation focuses on six national registries in the EU (Finland, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Slovenia) and the European Public Health Best Practice Portal. Information was obtained through a working group on Good/ Best Practice Portals, established in 2019. Information on the process of adding good/best practices to the registry and on measures that promote implementation was gathered and evaluated through a descriptive case comparison. The comparison suggests that implementation can be promoted through different approaches for capacity building measures and incentives for implementation. The latter included funding resources, titling/awarding of practice and professional feedback in only a few registries. Registries may be useful not only for transparency of good and best Practices but also for implementation through capacity building and several incentives. The information provided in this presentation may be informative in guiding development of similar resources elsewhere and a starting point for discussion on how to support best the implementation of good/ best practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Rossmann
- Department for Cross Sectional Research, Federal Centre for Health Education Germany , Cologne, Germany
| | - D van Dale
- Department of Health and Society, RIVM , Bilthoven, Netherlands
| | - S Rados-Krnel
- Development of Health, National Institute of Public Health , Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - M Kylanen
- Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare , Helsinki, Finland
| | - K Lewtak
- Department of Health Promotion and Chronic Diseases , National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland
| | - M Grasso
- DoRS - Health Promotion Regional Documentatio, Piedmonte Region , Italy
| | - C Tortone
- DoRS - Health Promotion Regional Documentatio, Piedmonte Region , Italy
| | - P Ragazzoni
- DoRS - Health Promotion Regional Documentatio, Piedmonte Region , Italy
| | - L Costa
- Department of Health Promotion and NCD's, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo J , Lisbon, Portugal
| | - A Maassen
- European Partnership for Health EuroHealthNet , Brussel, Belgium
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7
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Truong HHM, Fatch R, McFarland W, Grasso M, Raymond HF, Holt M, Steward WT. Destination-Specific and Home Environment Condom Norms Influence Sexual Behavior During Travel. AIDS Educ Prev 2022; 34:245-255. [PMID: 35647868 PMCID: PMC10654111 DOI: 10.1521/aeap.2022.34.3.245] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Travelers may adapt HIV risk-reduction practices based on perceived destination-specific norms. We examined the association between perceived condom norms and condomless anal sex (CAS) during international and domestic travel and in the home environment among men who have sex with men. Men who traveled internationally in the past 12 months were recruited by respondent-driven sampling (N = 501). Not knowing destination-specific condom norms was significantly associated with less CAS during international travel and in the home environment but not during domestic travel. Perceiving home environment condom norms to expect use of condoms was significantly associated with less CAS during domestic but not international travel. Men were less likely to engage in CAS during international travel when destination-specific condom norms were unknown. Unfamiliarity with the environment and culture may influence some men to refrain from higher-risk behaviors. During domestic travel, some men appeared to apply home environment condom norms, which may be erroneous in some situations and pose an HIV risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Willi McFarland
- University of California San Francisco
- California Department of Public Health
| | | | | | - Martin Holt
- University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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8
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Grasso
- Department of Urology, New York Medical College, Sleepy Hollow, New York
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9
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Sidoli C, Zambon A, Tassistro E, Rossi E, Mossello E, Inzitari M, Cherubini A, Marengoni A, Morandi A, Bellelli G, Tarasconi A, Sella M, Paternò G, Faggian G, Lucarelli C, De Grazia N, Alberto C, Porcella L, Nardiello I, Chimenti E, Zeni M, Romairone E, Minaglia C, Ceccotti C, Guerra G, Mantovani G, Monacelli F, Minaglia C, Candiani T, Santolini F, Minaglia C, Rosso M, Bono V, Sibilla S, Dal Santo P, Ceci M, Barone P, Schirinzi T, Formenti A, Nastasi G, Isaia G, Gonella D, Battuello A, Casson S, Calvani D, Boni F, Ciaccio A, Rosa R, Sanna G, Manfredini S, Cortese L, Rizzo M, Prestano R, Greco A, Lauriola M, Gelosa G, Piras V, Arena M, Cosenza D, Bellomo A, LaMontagna M, Gabbani L, Lambertucci L, Perego S, Parati G, Basile G, Gallina V, Pilone G, Giudice C, Pietrogrande L, Mosca M, Corazzin I, Rossi P, Nunziata V, D’Amico F, Grippa A, Giardini S, Barucci R, Cossu A, Fiorin L, Arena M, Distefano M, Lunardelli M, Brunori M, Ruffini I, Abraham E, Varutti A, Fabbro E, Catalano A, Martino G, Leotta D, Marchet A, Dell’Aquila G, Scrimieri A, Davoli M, Casella M, Cartei A, Polidori G, Basile G, Brischetto D, Motta S, Saponara R, Perrone P, Russo G, Del D, Car C, Pirina T, Franzoni S, Cotroneo A, Ghiggia F, Volpi G, Menichetti C, Bo M, Panico A, Calogero P, Corvalli G, Mauri M, Lupia E, Manfredini R, Fabbian F, March A, Pedrotti M, Veronesi M, Strocchi E, Borghi C, Bianchetti A, Crucitti A, DiFrancesco V, Fontana G, Geriatria A, Bonanni L, Barbone F, Serrati C, Ballardini G, Simoncelli M, Ceschia G, Scarpa C, Brugiolo R, Fusco S, Ciarambino T, Biagini C, Tonon E, Porta M, Venuti D, DelSette M, Poeta M, Barbagallo G, Trovato G, Delitala A, Arosio P, Reggiani F, Zuliani G, Ortolani B, Mussio E, Girardi A, Coin A, Ruotolo G, Castagna A, Masina M, Cimino R, Pinciaroli A, Tripodi G, Cassadonte F, Vatrano M, Scaglione L, Fogliacco P, Muzzuilini C, Romano F, Padovani A, Rozzini L, Cagnin A, Fragiacomo F, Desideri G, Liberatore E, Bruni A, Orsitto G, Franco M, Bonfrate L, Bonetto M, Pizio N, Magnani G, Cecchetti G, Longo A, Bubba V, Marinan L, Cotelli M, Turla M, Brunori M, Sessa M, Abruzzi L, Castoldi G, LoVetere D, Musacchio C, Novello M, Cavarape A, Bini A, Leonardi A, Seneci F, Grimaldi W, Seneci F, Fimognari F, Bambar V, Saitta A, Corica F, Braga M, Servi, Ettorre E, Camellini Bellelli CG, Annoni G, Marengoni A, Bruni A, Crescenzo A, Noro G, Turco R, Ponzetto M, Giuseppe L, Mazzei B, Maiuri G, Costaggiu D, Damato R, Fabbro E, Formilan M, Patrizia G, Santuar L, Gallucci M, Minaglia C, Paragona M, Bini P, Modica D, Abati C, Clerici M, Barbera I, NigroImperiale F, Manni A, Votino C, Castiglioni C, Di M, Degl’Innocenti M, Moscatelli G, Guerini S, Casini C, Dini D, DeNotariis S, Bonometti F, Paolillo C, Riccardi A, Tiozzo A, SamySalamaFahmy A, Riccardi A, Paolillo C, DiBari M, Vanni S, Scarpa A, Zara D, Ranieri P, Alessandro M, Calogero P, Corvalli G, Di F, Pezzoni D, Platto C, D’Ambrosio V, Ivaldi C, Milia P, DeSalvo F, Solaro C, Strazzacappa M, Bo M, Panico A, Cazzadori M, Bonetto M, Grasso M, Troisi E, Magnani G, Cecchetti G, Guerini V, Bernardini B, Corsini C, Boffelli S, Filippi A, Delpin K, Faraci B, Bertoletti E, Vannucci M, Crippa P, Malighetti A, Caltagirone C, DiSant S, Bettini D, Maltese F, Formilan M, Abruzzese G, Minaglia C, Cosimo D, Azzini M, Cazzadori M, Colombo M, Procino G, Fascendini S, Barocco F, Del P, D’Amico F, Grippa A, Mazzone A, Cottino M, Vezzadini G, Avanzi S, Brambilla C, Orini S, Sgrilli F, Mello A, Lombardi Muti LE, Dijk B, Fenu S, Pes C, Gareri P, Castagna A, Passamonte M, Rigo R, Locusta L, Caser L, Rosso G, Cesarini S, Cozzi R, Santini C, Carbone P, Cazzaniga I, Lovati R, Cantoni A, Ranzani P, Barra D, Pompilio G, Dimori S, Cernesi S, Riccò C, Piazzolla F, Capittini E, Rota C, Gottardi F, Merla L, Barelli A, Millul A, De G, Morrone G, Bigolari M, Minaglia C, Macchi M, Zambon F, D’Amico F, D’Amico F, Pizzorni C, DiCasaleto G, Menculini G, Marcacci M, Catanese G, Sprini D, DiCasalet T, Bocci M, Borga S, Caironi P, Cat C, Cingolani E, Avalli L, Greco G, Citerio G, Gandini L, Cornara G, Lerda R, Brazzi L, Simeone F, Caciorgna M, Alampi D, Francesconi S, Beck E, Antonini B, Vettoretto K, Meggiolaro M, Garofalo E, Bruni A, Notaro S, Varutti R, Bassi F, Mistraletti G, Marino A, Rona R, Rondelli E, Riva I, Cortegiani A, Pistidda L, D’Andrea R, Querci L, Gnesin P, Todeschini M, Lugano M, Castelli G, Ortolani M, Cotoia A, Maggiore S, DiTizio L, Graziani R, Testa I, Ferretti E, Castioni C, Lombardi F, Caserta R, Pasqua M, Simoncini S, Baccarini F, Rispoli M, Grossi F, Cancelliere L, Carnelli M, Puccini F, Biancofiore G, Siniscalchi A, Laici C, Mossello E, Torrini M, Pasetti G, Palmese S, Oggioni R, Mangani V, Pini S, Martelli M, Rigo E, Zuccalà F, Cherri A, Spina R, Calamai I, Petrucci N, Caicedo A, Ferri F, Gritti P, Brienza N, Fonnesu R, Dessena M, Fullin G, Saggioro D. Prevalence and features of delirium in older patients admitted to rehabilitation facilities: a multicenter study. Aging Clin Exp Res 2022; 34:1827-1835. [PMID: 35396698 DOI: 10.1007/s40520-022-02099-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Delirium is thought to be common across various settings of care; however, still little research has been conducted in rehabilitation. AIM We investigated the prevalence of delirium, its features and motor subtypes in older patients admitted to rehabilitation facilities during the three editions of the "Delirium Day project". METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study in which 1237 older patients (age ≥ 65 years old) admitted to 50 Italian rehabilitation wards during the three editions of the "Delirium Day project" (2015 to 2017) were included. Delirium was evaluated through the 4AT and its motor subtype with the Delirium Motor Subtype Scale. RESULTS Delirium was detected in 226 patients (18%), and the most recurrent motor subtype was mixed (37%), followed by hypoactive (26%), hyperactive (21%) and non-motor one (16%). In a multivariate Poisson regression model with robust variance, factors associated with delirium were: disability in basic (PR 1.48, 95%CI: 1.17-1.9, p value 0.001) and instrumental activities of daily living (PR 1.58, 95%CI: 1.08-2.32, p value 0.018), dementia (PR 2.10, 95%CI: 1.62-2.73, p value < 0.0001), typical antipsychotics (PR 1.47, 95%CI: 1.10-1.95, p value 0.008), antidepressants other than selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (PR 1.3, 95%CI: 1.02-1.66, p value 0.035), and physical restraints (PR 2.37, 95%CI: 1.68-3.36, p value < 0.0001). CONCLUSION This multicenter study reports that 2 out 10 patients admitted to rehabilitations had delirium on the index day. Mixed delirium was the most prevalent subtype. Delirium was associated with unmodifiable (dementia, disability) and modifiable (physical restraints, medications) factors. Identification of these factors should prompt specific interventions aimed to prevent or mitigate delirium.
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Grasso M, Bond GJ, Kim YJ, Boyd S, Matson Dzebo M, Valenzuela S, Tsang T, Schibrowsky NA, Alwan KB, Blackburn NJ, Burslem GM, Wittung-Stafshede P, Winkler DD, Marmorstein R, Brady DC. The copper chaperone CCS facilitates copper binding to MEK1/2 to promote kinase activation. J Biol Chem 2021; 297:101314. [PMID: 34715128 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Normal physiology relies on the precise coordination of intracellular signal transduction pathways that respond to nutrient availability to balance cell growth and cell death. The canonical MAPK pathway consists of the RAF-MEK-ERK signaling cascade and represents one of the most well-defined axes within eukaryotic cells to promote cell proliferation, which underscores its frequent mutational activation in the majority of human cancers. Our recent studies illuminated a function for the redox-active micronutrient copper (Cu) as an intracellular mediator of signaling by connecting Cu to the amplitude of MAPK signaling via a direct interaction between Cu and the kinases MEK1 and MEK2. Given the large quantities of molecules like glutathione and metallothionein that limit cellular toxicity from free Cu ions, evolutionarily conserved Cu chaperones facilitate the efficient delivery of Cu to cuproenzymes. Thus, a dedicated cellular delivery mechanism of Cu to MEK1/2 is likely to exist. Using surface plasmon resonance and proximity-dependent biotin ligase studies, we report here that the Cu chaperone CCS selectively bound to and facilitated Cu transfer to MEK1. Mutations in CCS that disrupt Cu(I) acquisition and exchange or a CCS small molecule inhibitor were employed and resulted in reduced Cu-stimulated MEK1 kinase activity. Our findings indicate that the Cu chaperone CCS provides fidelity within a complex biological system to achieve appropriate installation of Cu within the MEK1 kinase active site that in turn modulates kinase activity and support the development of novel MEK1/2 inhibitors that target the Cu structural interface or blunt dedicated Cu delivery mechanisms via CCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Grasso
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Gavin J Bond
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Biochemistry Major Program, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Ye-Jin Kim
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Stefanie Boyd
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Maria Matson Dzebo
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Valenzuela
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tiffany Tsang
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Natalie A Schibrowsky
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Katherine B Alwan
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - Ninian J Blackburn
- Department of Chemical Physiology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
| | - George M Burslem
- Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Pernilla Wittung-Stafshede
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Duane D Winkler
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX, 75080, USA
| | - Ronen Marmorstein
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Donita C Brady
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA; Department of Cancer Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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11
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Jin R, Grasso M, Zhou M, Marmorstein R, Baumgart T. Unfolding Mechanisms and Conformational Stability of the Dimeric Endophilin N-BAR Domain. ACS Omega 2021; 6:20790-20803. [PMID: 34423187 PMCID: PMC8374900 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.1c01905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Endophilin, which is a member of the Bin-amphiphysin-Rvs (BAR) domain protein superfamily, contains a homodimeric N-BAR domain of a characteristic crescent shape. The N-BAR domain comprises a six-helix bundle and is known to sense and generate membrane curvature. Here, we characterize aspects of the unfolding mechanism of the endophilin A1 N-BAR domain during thermal denaturation and examine factors that influence the thermal stability of this domain. Far-UV circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy was applied to monitor changes in the secondary structure above room temperature. The protein's conformational changes were further characterized through Foerster resonance energy transfer and cross-linking experiments at varying temperatures. Our results indicate that thermal unfolding of the endophilin N-BAR is (minimally) a two-step process, with a dimeric intermediate that displays partial helicity loss. Furthermore, a thermal shift assay and temperature-dependent CD were applied to compare the unfolding processes of several truncated versions of endophilin. The melting temperature of the N-BAR domain decreased when we deleted either the N-terminal H0 helix or the unstructured linker of endophilin. This result suggests that these intrinsically disordered domains may play a role in structurally stabilizing the functional N-BAR domain in vivo. Finally, we show that single-site mutations can also compromise endophilin's thermal stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Jin
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Michael Grasso
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Mingyang Zhou
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Abramson
Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Ronen Marmorstein
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Abramson
Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Tobias Baumgart
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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12
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Fera D, Nguyen D, Lin LY, Zhou J, Kibby E, Sia T, Tillis T, Vapuryan N, Xu M, Potluri R, Shin Y, Erler E, Bronkema N, Boehlmer D, Chung C, Burkhard C, Zeng S, Grasso M, Acevedo L, Marmorstein R. Identification and Characterization of a B‐Raf Kinase Alpha Helix Critical for the Activity of MEK Kinase in MAPK Signaling. FASEB J 2021. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.2021.35.s1.01944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Fera
- Chemistry and BiochemistrySwarthmore CollegeSwarthmorePA
| | - Diep Nguyen
- Chemistry and BiochemistrySwarthmore CollegeSwarthmorePA
| | | | - Jeffrey Zhou
- Chemistry and BiochemistrySwarthmore CollegeSwarthmorePA
| | - Emily Kibby
- Chemistry and BiochemistrySwarthmore CollegeSwarthmorePA
| | - Twan Sia
- Chemistry and BiochemistrySwarthmore CollegeSwarthmorePA
| | - Tiara Tillis
- Chemistry and BiochemistrySwarthmore CollegeSwarthmorePA
| | | | - Ming‐Ray Xu
- Chemistry and BiochemistrySwarthmore CollegeSwarthmorePA
| | - Rajiv Potluri
- Chemistry and BiochemistrySwarthmore CollegeSwarthmorePA
| | - YongJoon Shin
- Chemistry and BiochemistrySwarthmore CollegeSwarthmorePA
| | | | - Naomi Bronkema
- Chemistry and BiochemistrySwarthmore CollegeSwarthmorePA
| | | | | | | | - Shirley Zeng
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research InstituteUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPA
| | - Michael Grasso
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPA
- Department of ChemistryUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPA
| | - Lucila Acevedo
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPA
| | - Ronen Marmorstein
- Department of Biochemistry and BiophysicsUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPA
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13
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Mickolajczyk KJ, Shelton PMM, Grasso M, Cao X, Warrington SE, Aher A, Liu S, Kapoor TM. Force-dependent stimulation of RNA unwinding by SARS-CoV-2 nsp13 helicase. Biophys J 2020; 120:1020-1030. [PMID: 33340543 PMCID: PMC7837305 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.11.2276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The superfamily 1 helicase nonstructural protein 13 (nsp13) is required for SARS-CoV-2 replication. The mechanism and regulation of nsp13 has not been explored at the single-molecule level. Specifically, force-dependent unwinding experiments have yet to be performed for any coronavirus helicase. Here, using optical tweezers, we find that nsp13 unwinding frequency, processivity, and velocity increase substantially when a destabilizing force is applied to the RNA substrate. These results, along with bulk assays, depict nsp13 as an intrinsically weak helicase that can be activated >50-fold by piconewton forces. Such force-dependent behavior contrasts the known behavior of other viral monomeric helicases, such as hepatitis C virus NS3, and instead draws stronger parallels to ring-shaped helicases. Our findings suggest that mechanoregulation, which may be provided by a directly bound RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, enables on-demand helicase activity on the relevant polynucleotide substrate during viral replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith J Mickolajczyk
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Patrick M M Shelton
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Michael Grasso
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Xiaocong Cao
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York; Laboratory of Structural Immunology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, China
| | - Sara E Warrington
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Amol Aher
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York
| | - Shixin Liu
- Laboratory of Nanoscale Biophysics and Biochemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York.
| | - Tarun M Kapoor
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York.
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14
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Nguyen D, Lin LY, Zhou JO, Kibby E, Sia TW, Tillis TD, Vapuryan N, Xu MR, Potluri R, Shin Y, Erler EA, Bronkema N, Boehlmer DJ, Chung CD, Burkhard C, Zeng SH, Grasso M, Acevedo LA, Marmorstein R, Fera D. Identification and Characterization of a B-Raf Kinase α-Helix Critical for the Activity of MEK Kinase in MAPK Signaling. Biochemistry 2020; 59:4755-4765. [PMID: 33272017 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
In the MAPK pathway, an oncogenic V600E mutation in B-Raf kinase causes the enzyme to be constitutively active, leading to aberrantly high phosphorylation levels of its downstream effectors, MEK and ERK kinases. The V600E mutation in B-Raf accounts for more than half of all melanomas and ∼3% of all cancers, and many drugs target the ATP binding site of the enzyme for its inhibition. Because B-Raf can develop resistance against these drugs and such drugs can induce paradoxical activation, drugs that target allosteric sites are needed. To identify other potential drug targets, we generated and kinetically characterized an active form of B-RafV600E expressed using a bacterial expression system. In doing so, we identified an α-helix on B-Raf, found at the B-Raf-MEK interface, that is critical for their interaction and the oncogenic activity of B-RafV600E. We assessed the binding between B-Raf mutants and MEK using pull downs and biolayer interferometry and assessed phosphorylation levels of MEK in vitro and in cells as well as its downstream target ERK to show that mutating certain residues on this α-helix is detrimental to binding and downstream activity. Our results suggest that this B-Raf α-helix binding site on MEK could be a site to target for drug development to treat B-RafV600E-induced melanomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diep Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, United States
| | - Linda Yingqi Lin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, United States
| | - Jeffrey O Zhou
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, United States
| | - Emily Kibby
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, United States
| | - Twan W Sia
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, United States
| | - Tiara D Tillis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, United States
| | - Narine Vapuryan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, United States
| | - Ming-Ray Xu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, United States
| | - Rajiv Potluri
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, United States
| | - YongJoon Shin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, United States
| | - Elizabeth A Erler
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, United States
| | - Naomi Bronkema
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, United States
| | - Daniel J Boehlmer
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, United States
| | - Christopher D Chung
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, United States
| | - Caroline Burkhard
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, United States
| | - Shirley H Zeng
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Michael Grasso
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Lucila A Acevedo
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Ronen Marmorstein
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States.,Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Daniela Fera
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania 19081, United States
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15
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Gambacurta D, Grasso M, Engel J. Gamow-Teller Strength in ^{48}Ca and ^{78}Ni with the Charge-Exchange Subtracted Second Random-Phase Approximation. Phys Rev Lett 2020; 125:212501. [PMID: 33274967 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.125.212501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
We develop a fully self-consistent subtracted second random-phase approximation for charge-exchange processes with Skyrme energy-density functionals. As a first application, we study Gamow-Teller excitations in the doubly magic nucleus ^{48}Ca, the lightest double-β emitter that could be used in an experiment, and in ^{78}Ni, the single-beta-decay rate of which is known. The amount of Gamow-Teller strength below 20 or 30 MeV is considerably smaller than in other energy-density-functional calculations and agrees better with experiment in ^{48}Ca, as does the beta-decay rate in ^{78}Ni. These important results, obtained without ad hoc quenching factors, are due to the presence of two-particle-two-hole configurations. Their density progressively increases with excitation energy, leading to a long high-energy tail in the spectrum, a fact that may have implications for the computation of nuclear matrix elements for neutrinoless double-β decay in the same framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Gambacurta
- INFN-LNS, Laboratori Nazionali del Sud, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - M Grasso
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS/IN2P3, IJCLab, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - J Engel
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, CB 3255, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-3255, USA
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16
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Chen J, Malone B, Llewellyn E, Grasso M, Shelton PM, Olinares PDB, Maruthi K, Eng ET, Vatandaslar H, Chait BT, Kapoor TM, Darst SA, Campbell EA. Structural Basis for Helicase-Polymerase Coupling in the SARS-CoV-2 Replication-Transcription Complex. Cell 2020; 182:1560-1573.e13. [PMID: 32783916 PMCID: PMC7386476 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 294] [Impact Index Per Article: 73.5] [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: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the 2019-2020 pandemic. The SARS-CoV-2 genome is replicated and transcribed by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase holoenzyme (subunits nsp7/nsp82/nsp12) along with a cast of accessory factors. One of these factors is the nsp13 helicase. Both the holo-RdRp and nsp13 are essential for viral replication and are targets for treating the disease COVID-19. Here we present cryoelectron microscopic structures of the SARS-CoV-2 holo-RdRp with an RNA template product in complex with two molecules of the nsp13 helicase. The Nidovirales order-specific N-terminal domains of each nsp13 interact with the N-terminal extension of each copy of nsp8. One nsp13 also contacts the nsp12 thumb. The structure places the nucleic acid-binding ATPase domains of the helicase directly in front of the replicating-transcribing holo-RdRp, constraining models for nsp13 function. We also observe ADP-Mg2+ bound in the nsp12 N-terminal nidovirus RdRp-associated nucleotidyltransferase domain, detailing a new pocket for anti-viral therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Brandon Malone
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Eliza Llewellyn
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Michael Grasso
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Patrick M.M. Shelton
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Paul Dominic B. Olinares
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Kashyap Maruthi
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Edward T. Eng
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Hasan Vatandaslar
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Brian T. Chait
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Tarun M. Kapoor
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Seth A. Darst
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA,Corresponding author
| | - Elizabeth A. Campbell
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA,Corresponding author
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17
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Mickolajczyk KJ, Shelton PMM, Grasso M, Cao X, Warrington SR, Aher A, Liu S, Kapoor TM. Force-dependent stimulation of RNA unwinding by SARS-CoV-2 nsp13 helicase. bioRxiv 2020. [PMID: 32766580 DOI: 10.1101/2020.07.31.231274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The superfamily-1 helicase non-structural protein 13 (nsp13) is required for SARS-CoV-2 replication, making it an important antiviral therapeutic target. The mechanism and regulation of nsp13 has not been explored at the single-molecule level. Specifically, force-dependent unwinding experiments have yet to be performed for any coronavirus helicase. Here, using optical tweezers, we find that nsp13 unwinding frequency, processivity, and velocity increase substantially when a destabilizing force is applied to the dsRNA, suggesting a passive unwinding mechanism. These results, along with bulk assays, depict nsp13 as an intrinsically weak helicase that can be potently activated by picoNewton forces. Such force-dependent behavior contrasts the known behavior of other viral monomeric helicases, drawing stronger parallels to ring-shaped helicases. Our findings suggest that mechanoregulation, which may be provided by a directly bound RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, enables on-demand helicase activity on the relevant polynucleotide substrate during viral replication.
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18
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Ralli M, Grasso M, Gilardi A, Ceccanti M, Messina MP, Tirassa P, Fiore M, Altissimi G, A Salzano F, De Vincentiis M, Greco A. The role of cytokines in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: A review. Clin Ter 2020; 171:e268-e274. [PMID: 32323717 DOI: 10.7417/ct.2020.2225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common malignancy worldwide, accounting for approximately 6% of all cancer cases and responsible for an estimated 1-2% of all cancer deaths. Much research evidence has accumulated in the recent years on the changes in the expression of pro-inflammatory and, to a lesser extent, anti-inflammatory cytokines, that (i) may have a role in the malignant transformation of HNSCC, (ii) may be used as diagnostic markers in the sera of patients because of their excessive production by the tumor cells and (iii) may act as possible immunotherapeutic targets. Among pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-8 (IL--8) has been reported to have an important role in cancer invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis. Recent studies have shown an increased concentration of IL--8 in patients with HNSCC and a positive association with lymph node metastasis and tumor classification, although IL--8 was not significantly associated with shorter overall survival and cancer progression-free survival. Additional evidence on the pathological mechanism of origin, invasion, and metastasis of HNSCC, as well as a better understanding of the implications of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors, are of paramount importance for the advancement of research in head and neck oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ralli
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome
| | - M Grasso
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome
| | - A Gilardi
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome
| | - M Ceccanti
- Department of Translational Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome
| | - M P Messina
- Department of Gynecology, Obstetric, and Urology, Sapienza University of Rome
| | - P Tirassa
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, IBCN-CNR, Rome
| | - M Fiore
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, IBCN-CNR, Rome
| | - G Altissimi
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome
| | - F A Salzano
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, University of Salerno Baronissi
| | - M De Vincentiis
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - A Greco
- Department of Sense Organs, Sapienza University of Rome
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19
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Chen J, Malone B, Llewellyn E, Grasso M, Shelton PMM, Olinares PDB, Maruthi K, Eng E, Vatandaslar H, Chait BT, Kapoor T, Darst SA, Campbell EA. Structural basis for helicase-polymerase coupling in the SARS-CoV-2 replication-transcription complex. bioRxiv 2020. [PMID: 32676607 PMCID: PMC7359531 DOI: 10.1101/2020.07.08.194084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the 2019-2020 pandemic. The SARS-CoV-2 genome is replicated-transcribed by the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase holoenzyme (subunits nsp7/nsp82/nsp12) along with a cast of accessory factors. One of these factors is the nsp13 helicase. Both the holo-RdRp and nsp13 are essential for viral replication and are targets for treating the disease COVID-19. Here we present cryo-electron microscopic structures of the SARS-CoV-2 holo-RdRp with an RNA template-product in complex with two molecules of the nsp13 helicase. The Nidovirus-order-specific N-terminal domains of each nsp13 interact with the N-terminal extension of each copy of nsp8. One nsp13 also contacts the nsp12-thumb. The structure places the nucleic acid-binding ATPase domains of the helicase directly in front of the replicating-transcribing holo-RdRp, constraining models for nsp13 function. We also observe ADP-Mg2+ bound in the nsp12 N-terminal nidovirus RdRp-associated nucleotidyltransferase domain, detailing a new pocket for anti-viral therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Chen
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Brandon Malone
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Eliza Llewellyn
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Michael Grasso
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Patrick M M Shelton
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Paul Dominic B Olinares
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Kashyap Maruthi
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, 10027 USA
| | - Ed Eng
- The National Resource for Automated Molecular Microscopy, Simons Electron Microscopy Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY, 10027 USA
| | - Hasan Vatandaslar
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Brian T Chait
- Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry and Gaseous Ion Chemistry, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Tarun Kapoor
- Laboratory of Chemistry and Cell Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Seth A Darst
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
| | - Elizabeth A Campbell
- Laboratory of Molecular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, 10065 USA
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Dorai T, Dorai B, Pinto JT, Grasso M, Cooper AJL. High Levels of Glutaminase II Pathway Enzymes in Normal and Cancerous Prostate Suggest a Role in 'Glutamine Addiction'. Biomolecules 2019; 10:biom10010002. [PMID: 31861280 PMCID: PMC7022959 DOI: 10.3390/biom10010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract: Many tumors readily convert l-glutamine to α-ketoglutarate. This conversion is almost invariably described as involving deamidation of l-glutamine to l-glutamate followed by a transaminase (or dehydrogenase) reaction. However, mammalian tissues possess another pathway for conversion of l-glutamine to α-ketoglutarate, namely the glutaminase II pathway: l-Glutamine is transaminated to α-ketoglutaramate, which is then deamidated to α-ketoglutarate by ω-amidase. Here we show that glutamine transaminase and ω-amidase specific activities are high in normal rat prostate. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that glutamine transaminase K (GTK) and ω-amidase are present in normal and cancerous human prostate and that expression of these enzymes increases in parallel with aggressiveness of the cancer cells. Our findings suggest that the glutaminase II pathway is important in providing anaplerotic carbon to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, closing the methionine salvage pathway, and in the provision of citrate carbon in normal and cancerous prostate. Finally, our data also suggest that selective inhibitors of GTK and/or ω-amidase may be clinically important for treatment of prostate cancer. In conclusion, the demonstration of a prominent glutaminase II pathway in prostate cancer cells and increased expression of the pathway with increasing aggressiveness of tumor cells provides a new perspective on 'glutamine addiction' in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thambi Dorai
- Department of Urology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA; (T.D.); (M.G.)
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA;
| | - Bhuvaneswari Dorai
- Department of Pathology, Montefiore-Nyack Hospital, Nyack, NY 10960, USA;
| | - John T. Pinto
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA;
| | - Michael Grasso
- Department of Urology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA; (T.D.); (M.G.)
| | - Arthur J. L. Cooper
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-914-594-3330; Fax: +1-914-594-4058
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Di Toro A, Klersy C, Giuliani L, Serio A, Disabella E, Grasso M, Smirnova A, Gambarin FI, Pasotti M, Tavazzi L, Favalli V, Arbustini E. 6128Losartan vs Nebivolol vs the association of both on the progression of aortic root dilation in genotyped Marfan Syndrome: 48 months open label randomized controlled phase III trial. Eur Heart J 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehz746.0154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Marfan Syndrome (MFS) is a rare multisystemic genetic disease caused by mutations in the Fibrillin 1 (FBN1) gene. Aortic root aneurysm, potentially evolving to dissection and rupture, is the most important clinical complication. Beta blockers (BB) and Angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB), these latter exerting an anti-TGFbeta1 effect, are current cornerstones of medical therapy in patients diagnosed with MFS and presenting aortic root aneurysm. The study aimed at comparing the effect of single drug (nebivolol and losartan) vs. the combination of both (losartan + nebivolol) in limiting the progression of the growth of the aortic root diameter (ARD) in FBN1 genotyped patients with aortic root aneurysm (z-score>2), who had not undergone prior aortic surgery.
Methods
We designed a controlled, open-label, single-blinded, 1:1:1 randomized, phase III single-centre study [NCT00683124]. Calculated sample size was 291 (power 90%, type I error 5%, 20% attrition, expected dropout 20%). ARD data collection was performed with annual 2D-transthoracic echocardiograms for four years. ARDs were measured with 2D-transthoracic echocardiogram as absolute values, aortic root ratio (ARR), and z-score. The primary endpoint was the modification of ARD z-score at 48 months. The analysis of the primary endpoint aimed at showing differences of ARD z-score comparing:
– The combined treatment arm (group A).
– The group aggregating both single treatment arms (group B).
– The nebivolol arm (group C).
– The losartan arm (group D).
Results
We enrolled 262 patients (126 adults, aged 17–55, and 136 children, aged 1–16); 236/262 (22 dropout; 4 lost at follow-up) completed the planned follow-up: 81 in the group A, 79 in the BB in the group C and 76 in the group D. No patient developed acute aortic dissection. Both drugs administered either individually or in combination were well tolerated without evidence of side effects. At 48 months, the ARD Z-score decreased from baseline to end-follow-up in all treatment arms. The decrease was significantly higher in the combined treatment arm (A) than in the single treatment aggregated arm (group B) with a difference in ARD z-score change of 0.17 (p=0.009) in the combined arm (A). Similarly, the decrease of z-score was inferior in the nebivolol arm and in the losartan arm than in the combined arm (by 0.16, p=0.032, and by 0.18, p=0.019, respectively). After Bonferroni correction for these post-hoc comparisons only the decrease of z-score in the losartan arm remained significantly inferior (p<0.025).
Conclusions
This study shows that the current cornerstones of medical therapy in MFS (ARB and BB) are effective in limiting the progression of the growth of the aortic root diameter: their combination exploits a synergistic effect. The combined administration of BB and ARB in patients with aortic root aneurysm is a sustainable, well tolerated treatment that effectively limits the rate of progression of aortic root dilation.
Acknowledgement/Funding
The financial support of Telethon, Italy (Grant no. GGP08238) is gratefully acknowledged.The drugs are a gift of Menarini and MSD
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Affiliation(s)
- A Di Toro
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Pavia, Italy
| | - C Klersy
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Clinical Epidemiology and Biometry, Pavia, Italy
| | - L Giuliani
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Pavia, Italy
| | - A Serio
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Pavia, Italy
| | - E Disabella
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Grasso
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Pavia, Italy
| | - A Smirnova
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Pavia, Italy
| | - F I Gambarin
- Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Rome, Italy
| | - M Pasotti
- ASST Pavia-Ospedale Civile di Voghera, Cardiology Unit, Voghera, Italy
| | - L Tavazzi
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, Scientific Direction, Cotignola, Italy
| | - V Favalli
- InGenomics srl, Pavia Technopole, Pavia, Italy
| | - E Arbustini
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Pavia, Italy
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Giuliani L, Di Toro A, Disabella E, Grasso M, Serio A, Urtis M, Pilotto A, Repetto A, Valentini A, Calliada F, Favalli V, Prati F, Arbustini E. P5539Genetic heterogeneity of spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). Eur Heart J 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehz746.0485] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
SCAD is a rare coronary event that may cause acute coronary syndromes (ACS). SCAD predominantly occurs in apparently healthy, young to middle aged women (up to 95% of cases). The known causes include: heritable connective tissue diseases, fibromuscular dysplasia, arteritis, contraceptives, cocaine abuse and chest trauma. A variable proportion of patients manifests progression to longer segments of the same vessel or recurrence of dissection in other coronary arteries. SCAD can be the first manifestation of a previously unrecognised systemic disease.
Methods
In 2010 we started collecting consecutive SCAD, as first clinical manifestation, in patients addressed to our attention for investigation of genetic or non genetic causes, after successful management of the acute phase and exclusion of systemic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. All patients underwent genetic visit and counselling, collection of clinical reports and imaging records, clinical cardiologic evaluation with pan-angio CT scan, biochemical testing including coagulation-related tests, and and genetic testing of genes causing connective tissue diseases. Parallel clinical family screening and genetic testing were systematically performed.
Results
The series is constituted of 35 patients (28F and 7M) (age at onset, mean ± SD, 44±7.6 years) with ACS-SCAD (20 STEMI and 15 NSTEMI) and 9 second dissections in a different coronary artery. Two sisters had ACS-SCAD caused by dissection of the same coronary artery.
We identified pathologic mutations (n=19/35, 54%) in COL3A1 (n=3), FBN1 (n=1), FBN1+TGFBR1 (n=1), TGFBR1 (n=2), TGFBR2 (n=1), MYLK (n=1), SMAD3 (n=1), COL5A1 (n=1 homozygous), COL5A2 (n=1), MYH11 (n=1), TGFB2 (n=1), ABCC6 (1 homozygous), ELN (2 homozygous sisters and 1 heterozygous unrelated patient), NOTCH1 (n=1). In 8 (23%) patients we identified VUS classified as C3 because previously unreported and predicted as uncertain on the basis of in silico analyses. In the remaining 8 patients we only identified C2 variants. A second SCAD (14 days to 78 months after the first event) occurred in 9 patients (9/35, 25%) (COL3A1 (n=2), FBN1 (n=1), FBN1+TGFBR1 (n=1), MYLK (n=1), COL5A2 (n=1), NOTCH1 (n=1) COL5A2 (n=1) and 1 with a C2 variant in COL3A1. Two patients with thrombocytosis were carriers of the somatic JAK2 V617F mutation. Extra-coronary arterial dilations/aneurysms occurred in 13 families; in the follow-up 2 patients demonstrate dissection in non-coronary arteries.
Conclusions
Our series, with the potential bias of a referral centre for inherited cardiovascular disease, demonstrated that SCAD is the possible first manifestation of a genetic disorder and that neither disease gene or mutation predicts the risk of a second coronary event. SCAD is a potentially fatal coronary event associated with ACS, warning for familial disease and unpredictable risk of recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Giuliani
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Pavia, Italy
| | - A Di Toro
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Pavia, Italy
| | - E Disabella
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Grasso
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Pavia, Italy
| | - A Serio
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Urtis
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Pavia, Italy
| | - A Pilotto
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Pavia, Italy
| | - A Repetto
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Division of Cardiology, Pavia, Italy
| | - A Valentini
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Department of Radiology, Pavia, Italy
| | - F Calliada
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Department of Radiology, Pavia, Italy
| | - V Favalli
- Pavia Technopole, InGenomics srl, Pavia, Italy
| | - F Prati
- Hospital San Giovanni Addolorata, Interventional Cardiology Unit, Rome, Italy
| | - E Arbustini
- Policlinic Foundation San Matteo IRCCS, Center for Inherited Cardiovascular Diseases, Pavia, Italy
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Cope N, Candelora C, Wong K, Kumar S, Nan H, Grasso M, Novak B, Li Y, Marmorstein R, Wang Z. Mechanism of BRAF Activation through Biochemical Characterization of the Recombinant Full-Length Protein. Chembiochem 2018; 19:1988-1997. [PMID: 29992710 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201800359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [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: 07/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
BRAF kinase plays an important role in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and harbors activating mutations in about half of melanomas and in a smaller percentage in many other cancers. Despite its importance, few in vitro studies have been performed to characterize the biochemical properties of full-length BRAF. Herein, a strategy to generate an active, intact form of BRAF protein suitable for in vitro enzyme kinetics is described. It is shown that purified, intact BRAF protein autophosphorylates the kinase activation loop and this can be enhanced by binding the MEK protein substrate through an allosteric mechanism. These studies provide in vitro evidence that BRAF selectively binds to active RAS and that the BRAF/CRAF heterodimer is the most active form, relative to their respective homodimers. Full-length BRAF analysis with small-molecule BRAF inhibitors shows that two drugs, dabrafenib and vemurafenib, can modestly enhance kinase activity of BRAF at low concentration. Taken together, this characterization of intact BRAF contributes to a framework for understanding its role in cell signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Cope
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, 19004, USA
| | - Christine Candelora
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, 19004, USA
| | - Kenneth Wong
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, 19004, USA
| | - Sujeet Kumar
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, 19004, USA
| | - Haihan Nan
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, 19004, USA
| | - Michael Grasso
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Borna Novak
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, 19004, USA
| | - Yana Li
- Eukaryotic Tissue Culture Facility, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Ronen Marmorstein
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Zhihong Wang
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, PA, 19004, USA
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Grasso M, Estrada MA, Berrios KN, Winkler JD, Marmorstein R. N-(7-Cyano-6-(4-fluoro-3-(2-(3-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)acetamido)phenoxy)benzo[d]thiazol-2-yl)cyclopropanecarboxamide (TAK632) Promotes Inhibition of BRAF through the Induction of Inhibited Dimers. J Med Chem 2018; 61:5034-5046. [PMID: 29727562 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BRAFV600E is the most common activating mutation in melanoma and patients treated with BRAFV600E inhibitors all develop resistance within one year. A significant resistance pathway is paradoxical activation (transactivation) involving BRAF dimers, whereby an inhibitor bound protein subunit allosterically activates the other subunit. We recently reported on dimeric BRAFV600E -selective vemurafenib inhibitors that stabilize an inactive αC-out/αC-out homodimeric conformation with improved inhibitor potency and selectivity in vitro. We set out to extend this strategy to target RAF homo- and heterodimers with the pan-RAF inhibitor TAK632 in dimeric configuration. Surprisingly, we find that monomeric TAK632 induces an active αC-in/αC-in BRAF dimer conformation, while dimeric TAK inhibitors cannot promote BRAF dimers and have significantly compromised potency in vitro. These studies uncover the intimate connection between BRAF dimerization and TAK632 mode of inhibition and highlight the importance of understanding the impact of BRAF inhibitors on kinase dimerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Grasso
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine , University of Pennsylvania , 421 Curie Boulevard , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 19104 , United States.,Department of Chemistry , University of Pennsylvania , 231 South 34th Street , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 19104 , United States
| | - Michelle A Estrada
- Department of Chemistry , University of Pennsylvania , 231 South 34th Street , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 19104 , United States
| | - Kiara N Berrios
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine , University of Pennsylvania , 421 Curie Boulevard , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 19104 , United States
| | - Jeffrey D Winkler
- Department of Chemistry , University of Pennsylvania , 231 South 34th Street , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 19104 , United States
| | - Ronen Marmorstein
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine , University of Pennsylvania , 421 Curie Boulevard , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 19104 , United States.,Department of Chemistry , University of Pennsylvania , 231 South 34th Street , Philadelphia , Pennsylvania 19104 , United States
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Scattoni V, Bolognesi A, Cozzarini C, Francesca F, Grasso M, Galli L, Torelli T, Campo B, Villa E, Rigatti P. Neoadjuvant CMV Chemotherapy plus Radical Cystectomy in Locally Advanced Bladder Cancer: The Impact of Pathologic Response on Long-Term Results. Tumori 2018; 82:463-9. [PMID: 9063525 DOI: 10.1177/030089169608200511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Aims and Background Neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy in infiltrating transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder has proved to be effective and to provide a pathologic complete response in about 30% of patients. No survival benefit has yet been proved. Methods We analyzed the outcome of 75 patients with advanced bladder cancer (stages T2-T4 N+/N0 M0) treated from 1985 to 1993 at two institutions in the same geographic area with 2 or 3 cycles of neoadjuvant CMV (cisplatin, methotrexate and vinblastine) chemotherapy plus cystectomy. Transurethral resection of the tumor was expressly avoided in order to keep the tumor intact as a marker lesion to evaluate response to chemotherapy. Results At the time of analysis, the median follow-up of 67 assessable patients was 51.5±3.9 (SE) months. Forty-six patients (69%) had clinical evidence of extravesical spread of the bladder tumor and 6 of lymph node metastases at presentation. After cystectomy, a pathologic complete response (pT0, pN0) was achieved in only 6 cases (9%) and a pathologic partial response in 32 patients (48%). The overall 5-year survival rate of all patients was 61 ±6%. Those patients who had a major response to chemotherapy (pCR + pPR) had a 5-year disease-free survival rate of 74%, which was statistically higher (P=0.0021) than the 44% for the remaining nonresponding patients (pNR). Overall, 43% of the patients with stage T2-T3a disease achieved tumor downstaging (CR, 5%; PR, 38%) compared with 63% of the patients with T3b-T4 (CR, 11%; PR, 52%), although there was no significant difference in 5-year survival curves between the two groups. Conclusions A pathologic complete response was achieved in less than 10% of the cases without a preoperative tumor resection. Unfortunately, most of the responses were only partial. Even though the study appears to suggest a survival advantage for those patients who achieved a downstaging, CMV chemotherapy had a limited curative potential in most of the patients. It seems unlikely that determinant proof will be obtained that neoadjuvant chemotherapy may improve survival over a nontreatment control arm. The intrinsic chemoresistance or the suboptimal response to chemotherapy of bladder cancer remains the most adverse prognostic factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Scattoni
- Department of Urology, Scientific Institute Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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Grasso M. Editorial Comment on: Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Three Different Modalities of Lithotrites for Intracorporeal Lithotripsy in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy by York et al. (From: York NE, Borofsky MS, Chew BH, et al. J Endourol 2017;31:1145-1151). J Endourol 2017; 32:75. [PMID: 29161895 DOI: 10.1089/end.2017.0755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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28
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Mazzon I, Favilli A, Grasso M, Moretti V, Soda G, Gerli S. Intramural uterine hemangioma: an insidious trap of a rare pathology. A case report. CLIN EXP OBSTET GYN 2017. [DOI: 10.12891/ceog3910.2017] [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: 11/01/2022]
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Fontana P, Grasso M, Acquaviva F, Gennaro E, Galli ML, Falco M, Scarano F, Scarano G, Lonardo F. SNORD116 deletions cause Prader-Willi syndrome with a mild phenotype and macrocephaly. Clin Genet 2017; 92:440-443. [PMID: 28266014 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2017] [Revised: 02/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Prader-Willi syndrome is a complex condition caused by lack of expression of imprinted genes in the paternally derived region of chromosome 15 (15q11q13). A small number of patients with Prader-Willi phenotype have been discovered to have narrow deletions, not encompassing the whole critical region, but only the SNORD116 cluster, which includes genes codifying for small nucleolar RNAs. This kind of deletion usually is not detected by the classic DNA methylation analysis test. We present the case of a male patient with a mild Prader-Willi phenotype and a small deletion including SNORD116, diagnosed by methylation-sensitive multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA. The patient showed neonatal hypotonia, hyperphagia, obesity, central hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, strabismus. Stature and intellectual development are within the normal range. The presence of macrocephaly, observed in other cases of SNORD116 deletions as well, is uncommon for the classic phenotype of the syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Fontana
- U.O.S.D. Genetica Medica, A.O.R.N. Gaetano Rummo, Benevento, Italy
| | - M Grasso
- S.C. Laboratorio Genetica Umana, EO Ospedali Galliera, Genova, Italy
| | - F Acquaviva
- U.O.S.D. Genetica Medica, A.O.R.N. Gaetano Rummo, Benevento, Italy
| | - E Gennaro
- S.C. Laboratorio Genetica Umana, EO Ospedali Galliera, Genova, Italy
| | - M L Galli
- S.C. Laboratorio Genetica Umana, EO Ospedali Galliera, Genova, Italy
| | - M Falco
- U.O.S.D. Genetica Medica, A.O.R.N. Gaetano Rummo, Benevento, Italy
| | - F Scarano
- U.O.S.D. Genetica Medica, A.O.R.N. Gaetano Rummo, Benevento, Italy
| | - G Scarano
- U.O.S.D. Genetica Medica, A.O.R.N. Gaetano Rummo, Benevento, Italy
| | - F Lonardo
- U.O.S.D. Genetica Medica, A.O.R.N. Gaetano Rummo, Benevento, Italy
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Goldfarb DS, Grasso M. Case Study - Case Studies in Cystinuria. Urol Nurs 2017; 37:90-93. [PMID: 29240374 PMCID: PMC5764755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The diagnosis and treatment of patients with rare inherited metabolic disorders associated with recurrent and often obstructive kidney stones are important to the prevention of chronic kidney disease or end stage renal disease. Two case studies in this article describe the diagnosis and management of cystinuria, the most common rare kidney stone disorder.
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Grasso M, Estrada MA, Ventocilla C, Samanta M, Maksimoska J, Villanueva J, Winkler JD, Marmorstein R. Chemically Linked Vemurafenib Inhibitors Promote an Inactive BRAF V600E Conformation. ACS Chem Biol 2016; 11:2876-2888. [PMID: 27571413 PMCID: PMC5108658 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.6b00529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The BRAF kinase, within the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, harbors activating mutations in about half of melanomas and to a significant extent in many other cancers. A single valine to glutamic acid substitution at residue 600 (BRAFV600E) accounts for about 90% of these activating mutations. While BRAFV600E-selective small molecule inhibitors, such as debrafenib and vemurafenib, have shown therapeutic benefit, almost all patients develop resistance. Resistance often arises through reactivation of the MAPK pathway, typically through mutation of upstream RAS, downstream MEK, or splicing variants. RAF kinases signal as homo- and heterodimers, and another complication associated with small molecule BRAFV600E inhibition is drug-induced allosteric activation of a wild-type RAF subunit (BRAF or CRAF) of the kinase dimer, a process called "transactivation" or "paradoxical activation." Here, we used BRAFV600E and vemurafenib as a model system to develop chemically linked kinase inhibitors to lock RAF dimers in an inactive conformation that cannot undergo transactivation. This structure-based design effort resulted in the development of Vem-BisAmide-2, a compound containing two vemurafenib molecules connected by a bis amide linker. We show that Vem-BisAmide-2 has comparable inhibitory potency as vemurafenib to BRAFV600E both in vitro and in cells but promotes an inactive dimeric BRAFV600E conformation unable to undergo transactivation. The crystal structure of a BRAFV600E/Vem-BisAmide-2 complex and associated biochemical studies reveal the molecular basis for how Vem-BisAmide-2 mediates selectivity for an inactive over an active dimeric BRAFV600E conformation. These studies have implications for targeting BRAFV600E/RAF heterodimers and other kinase dimers for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Grasso
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA,Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S. 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michelle A. Estrada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S. 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Christian Ventocilla
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S. 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Minu Samanta
- Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jasna Maksimoska
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S. 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jessie Villanueva
- Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, 3601 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jeffrey D. Winkler
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S. 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ronen Marmorstein
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics and the Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, 421 Curie Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA,Department of Chemistry, University of Pennsylvania, 231 S. 34th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Grasso M, Remacle M, Bachy V, Van Der Vorst S, Lawson G. Response to letter to Editor: "The clinical course of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis after the use of cidofovir is influenced by multiple factors" by Michel R. M. San Giorgi et al. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2016; 274:593-594. [PMID: 27654254 DOI: 10.1007/s00405-016-4311-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2016] [Accepted: 09/16/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M Grasso
- Department of ORL-Head and Neck Surgery, "Sapienza" University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
| | - M Remacle
- Department of ORL-Head and Neck Surgery, CHL-Eich Luxembourg, Eich, Luxembourg
| | - V Bachy
- Université Catholique de Louvain-CHU UCL NAMUR, Namur, Belgium
| | - S Van Der Vorst
- Université Catholique de Louvain-CHU UCL NAMUR, Namur, Belgium
| | - G Lawson
- Université Catholique de Louvain-CHU UCL NAMUR, Namur, Belgium
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Grasso M. Employment and remuneration trends in 2016. Aust Vet J 2016; 94:N18. [PMID: 27486604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
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Grasso M. The debate over penalty rates gets complicated. Aust Vet J 2016; 94:N12. [PMID: 27243056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
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Grasso M. Business restructuring and how it affects you: part 2. Aust Vet J 2015; 93:N23-N24. [PMID: 26807468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
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Affiliation(s)
- I Mazzon
- a "Arbor Vitae" Centre, Clinica Nuova Villa Claudia , Rome , Italy
| | - A Favilli
- b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
| | - M Grasso
- a "Arbor Vitae" Centre, Clinica Nuova Villa Claudia , Rome , Italy
| | - S Gerli
- b Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University of Perugia , Perugia , Italy
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Truong HM, Fatch R, Nguyen B, Grasso M, Robertson T, Raymond HF, McFarland W. O20.4 Transmission risk beliefs influence sexual risk behaviour of hiv-positive msm. Br J Vener Dis 2015. [DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2015-052270.190] [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: 11/04/2022]
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Grasso M. How to introduce and maintain change in the workplace. Aust Vet J 2015; 93:N20. [PMID: 26539596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
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Mirzazadeh A, Grasso M, Johnson K, Briceno A, Navadeh S, McFarland W, Page K. Acceptability of Global Positioning System technology to survey injecting drug users' movements and social interactions: a pilot study from San Francisco, USA. Technol Health Care 2015; 22:689-700. [PMID: 24990173 DOI: 10.3233/thc-140838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite potential applications for improving health services using GPS technology, little is known about ethical concerns, acceptability, and logistical barriers for their use, particularly among marginalized groups. OBJECTIVES We garnered the insights of people who inject drug (PWID) in San Francisco on these topics. METHODS PWID were enrolled through street-outreach (n=20) and an ongoing study (n=4) for 4 focus group discussions. Participants also completed a self-administered questionnaire on demographic characteristics and their numbers and types of interactions with other PWID. RESULTS Median age was 30.5 years, majorities were male (83.3%) and white (68.2%). Most interacted with other PWID for eating meals and purchasing drugs over the last week; fewer reported interactions such as sexual contact, drug treatment, or work. Participants identified several concerns about carrying GPS devices, including what authorities might do with the data, that other PWID and dealers may suspect them as informants, and adherence to carrying and use. Most felt concerns were surmountable with detailed informed consent on the purpose of the study and practical ways to carry, charge, and hide devices. CONCLUSIONS PWID felt data collection on their movements and social interactions with other PWID using GPS can be acceptable with addressing specific concerns. The technology is now in hand to greatly expand the ability to monitor health conditions with respect to the environment and improve the location of prevention, care, and treatment facilities to serve hard to reach, mobile, and hidden populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Mirzazadeh
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco California, San Francisco, CA, USA Regional Knowledge Hub, and WHO Collaborating Centre for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - M Grasso
- Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - K Johnson
- Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - A Briceno
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - S Navadeh
- Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco California, San Francisco, CA, USA Regional Knowledge Hub, and WHO Collaborating Centre for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - W McFarland
- Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - K Page
- Global Health Sciences, University of California, San Francisco California, San Francisco, CA, USA Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Truong HHM, Fatch R, Grasso M, Robertson T, Tao L, Chen YH, Curotto A, McFarland W, Grant RM, Reznick O, Raymond HF, Steward WT. Gay and bisexual men engage in fewer risky sexual behaviors while traveling internationally: a cross-sectional study in San Francisco. Sex Transm Infect 2015; 91:220-5. [PMID: 25355773 PMCID: PMC10630101 DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2014-051660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2014] [Accepted: 10/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND International travel poses potential challenges to HIV prevention. A number of studies have observed an association between travel and behavioural disinhibition. In the present study, we assessed differences in sexual behaviour while travelling internationally and within the USA, compared with being in the home environment. METHODS A probability-based sample of men who have sex with men (MSM) from the San Francisco Bay Area who had travelled internationally in the previous 12 months was recruited through an adapted respondent-driven sampling methodology (N=501). Participants completed interviewer-administered, computer-assisted surveys. RESULTS Detailed partner-by-partner behavioural data by destination type were collected on 2925 sexual partnerships: 1028 while travelling internationally, 665 while travelling within the USA and 1232 while staying in the San Francisco Bay Area. The proportion of partnerships during international travel that involved unprotected anal intercourse (UAI) was lower compared with during domestic travel and staying locally. International travel was associated with decreased odds of receptive UAI (AOR=0.65, p=0.02) compared with staying locally and there was a trend towards decreased odds of insertive UAI (AOR=0.70, p=0.07). CONCLUSIONS MSM engaged in proportionately fewer sexual activities which present a high HIV transmission risk when travelling internationally, namely unprotected receptive and insertive anal intercourse and particularly with HIV serodiscordant partners. The lower sexual risk-taking during international travel was robust to controlling for many factors, including self-reported HIV serostatus, age, relationship status and type of partnership. These findings suggest that when travelling internationally, MSM may experience behavioural disinhibition to a lesser extent than had been described previously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Ha M Truong
- University of California, San Francisco, California, USA Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Robin Fatch
- University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Michael Grasso
- Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Luke Tao
- Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Yea-Hung Chen
- Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California, USA
| | | | - Willi McFarland
- University of California, San Francisco, California, USA Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Robert M Grant
- University of California, San Francisco, California, USA Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Olga Reznick
- University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
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Rigatti P, Francesca F, Ronchi F, Di Girolamo V, Grasso M, Colombo R, Maffezzini M. Cystine lithiasis: combined extracorporeal and litholytic treatment. Contrib Nephrol 2015; 58:274-7. [PMID: 3691141 DOI: 10.1159/000414533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- P Rigatti
- Ospedale Raffaele, Divisione di Urologia, Milano, Italia
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Grasso M. What is a uniform? Aust Vet J 2015; 93:N20. [PMID: 25989644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
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Grasso M. Restraints of trade in common law contracts. Aust Vet J 2015; 93:N14-N15. [PMID: 25856845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
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Moltrasio F, Brenna A, Bovo G, Sala E, Jaconi M, Blanco S, Grasso M, Leni D, Pagni F. Pathological features of Xp11 translocation renal cell carcinoma using urine liquid-based cytology with FISH. Cytopathology 2014; 26:325-8. [DOI: 10.1111/cyt.12208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F. Moltrasio
- Department of Pathology; San Gerardo Hospital; University Milan Bicocca; Monza Italy
| | - A. Brenna
- Department of Pathology; San Gerardo Hospital; University Milan Bicocca; Monza Italy
| | - G. Bovo
- Department of Pathology; San Gerardo Hospital; University Milan Bicocca; Monza Italy
| | - E. Sala
- Department of Pathology; San Gerardo Hospital; University Milan Bicocca; Monza Italy
| | - M. Jaconi
- Department of Pathology; San Gerardo Hospital; University Milan Bicocca; Monza Italy
| | - S. Blanco
- Department of Urology; San Gerardo Hospital; Monza Italy
| | - M. Grasso
- Department of Urology; San Gerardo Hospital; Monza Italy
| | - D. Leni
- Department of Radiology; San Gerardo Hospital; Monza Italy
| | - F. Pagni
- Department of Pathology; San Gerardo Hospital; University Milan Bicocca; Monza Italy
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Abstract
Ureteroscopic lithotripsy has evolved since the first reported cases employing rigid rod-lens endoscopes and stiff ultrasonic lithotrites. Fiber optics facilitated rigid endoscope miniaturization and the development of a steerable, deflectable flexible ureteroscopes. Over 30 years of technical innovations culminating in digital imagers and powerful, precise laser lithotrites, complimented by progressive endoscopic techniques have produced efficient endoscopic therapies with minimal morbidity and commonly performed in an outpatient setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Alexander
- Department of Urology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, 10595, USA,
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Ferrero S, Ladetto M, Drandi D, Cavallo F, Genuardi E, Urbano M, Caltagirone S, Grasso M, Rossini F, Guglielmelli T, Cangialosi C, Liberati AM, Callea V, Carovita T, Crippa C, De Rosa L, Pisani F, Falcone AP, Pregno P, Oliva S, Terragna C, Musto P, Passera R, Boccadoro M, Palumbo A. Long-term results of the GIMEMA VEL-03-096 trial in MM patients receiving VTD consolidation after ASCT: MRD kinetics' impact on survival. Leukemia 2014; 29:689-95. [DOI: 10.1038/leu.2014.219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2014] [Revised: 06/17/2014] [Accepted: 07/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Alexander B, James M, Fishman A, Grasso M, Dorai T. MP29-09 INDUCTION OF HYPOMETABOLISM AS A NOVEL STRATEGY TO EXTEND WARM ISCHEMIA TIME IN PARTIAL NEPHRECTOMIES. J Urol 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2014.02.751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Brenna M, Colò G, Roca-Maza X, Bortignon PF, Moghrabi K, Grasso M. A microscopic model beyond mean-field: from giant resonances properties to the fit of new effective interactions. EPJ Web of Conferences 2014. [DOI: 10.1051/epjconf/20146602015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Schoenthaler M, Buchholz N, Farin E, Ather H, Bach C, Bach T, Denstedt JD, Fritsche HM, Grasso M, Hakenberg OW, Herwig R, Knoll T, Kuehhas FE, Liatsikos E, Liske P, Marberger M, Osther PJS, Santos JMR, Sarica K, Seitz C, Straub M, Traxer O, Trinchieri A, Turney B, Miernik A. The Post-Ureteroscopic Lesion Scale (PULS): a multicenter video-based evaluation of inter-rater reliability. World J Urol 2013; 32:1033-40. [PMID: 24135917 DOI: 10.1007/s00345-013-1185-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2013] [Accepted: 10/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The Post-Ureteroscopic Lesion Scale (PULS) offers a simple grading system for the description of ureteral lesions after ureteroscopy. In this article, we present the results of a video-based multicenter evaluation of the inter-rater reliability of clinically important PULS grades 0-3. METHODS Video sequences at the end of ureteroscopy (final passage) were recorded for 100 consecutive patients at a single institution and assessed by experienced urologists (n = 20) and senior residents (n = 17) at 19 international centers. The cohort included only patients with lesions grades 0-3 (with grades 2 and 3 subsumed as 2 + since distinction is defined by an extravasation of contrast medium in fluoroscopy). The gradings were evaluated for inter-rater reliability and in terms of simplicity, validity, comprehensibility, reproducibility, and usefulness. RESULTS Overall, inter-rater reliability was high (Kendall's W = 0.69, p < 0.001) and was comparable between specialists (Kendall's W = 0.69, p < 0.001) and residents (Kendall's W = 0.71, p < 0.001). The matched ratings showed grade 0 in 43.0 % of patients and grades 1 or 2 + in 44.0 and 13.0 % of patients, respectively. Results of the questionnaires indicated a high degree of acceptance, with an overall rating of 1.76 (1.64-1.93 for different items, scale 1-6). CONCLUSIONS Inter-rater reliability of the endoscopically assessable PULS was high among urologists with different levels of experience in different countries worldwide. The validated PULS system may be used for standardized reporting of ureteral lesions/injuries after ureteroscopy. In addition, PULS will enable more selective standardization of indications for postoperative DJ stenting based on the randomized controlled trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Schoenthaler
- Department of Urology, University Medical Center, Hugstetterstr. 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
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Truong HHM, Grasso M, Chen YH, Kellogg TA, Robertson T, Curotto A, Steward WT, McFarland W. Balancing theory and practice in respondent-driven sampling: a case study of innovations developed to overcome recruitment challenges. PLoS One 2013; 8:e70344. [PMID: 23990901 PMCID: PMC3749182 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0070344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2013] [Accepted: 06/17/2013] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Respondent-driven sampling (RDS) offers a recruitment strategy for hard-to-reach populations. However, RDS faces logistical and theoretical challenges that threaten efficiency and validity in settings worldwide. We present innovative adaptations to conventional RDS to overcome barriers encountered in recruiting a large, representative sample of men who have sex with men (MSM) who travel internationally. Methods Novel methodological adaptations for the “International Travel Research to Inform Prevention” or “I-TRIP” study were offering participants a choice between electronic and paper coupons referrals for recruitment and modifying the secondary incentives structure from small cash amounts to raffle entries for periodic large cash prize raffle drawings. Staged referral limit increases from 3 to 10 referrals and progressive addition of 70 seeds were also implemented. Results There were 501 participants enrolled in up to 13 waves of growth. Among participants with a choice of referral methods, 81% selected electronic referrals. Of participants who were recruited electronically, 90% chose to remain with electronic referrals when it was their turn to recruit. The mean number of enrolled referrals was 0.91 for electronic referrals compared to 0.56 for paper coupons. Median referral lag time, i.e., the time interval between when recruiters were given their referrals and when a referred individual enrolled in the study, was 20 days (IQR 10–40) for electronic referrals, 20 days (IQR 8–58) for paper coupons, 20 days (IQR 10–41) for raffle entries and 33 days (IQR 16–148) for small cash incentives. Conclusions The recruitment of MSM who travel internationally required maximizing known flexible tools of RDS while at the same time necessitating innovations to increase recruitment efficiency. Electronic referrals emerged as a major advantage in recruiting this hard-to-reach population who are of high socio-economic status, geographically diffuse and highly mobile. These enhancements may improve the performance of RDS in target populations with similar characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Ha M. Truong
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, San Francisco, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Michael Grasso
- Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Yea-Hung Chen
- Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Timothy A. Kellogg
- Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Tyler Robertson
- Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Alberto Curotto
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Wayne T. Steward
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Willi McFarland
- Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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