Archivio della ricerca della Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna
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Circulating mitochondrial DNA signature in cardiometabolic patients
Get PDFBackground: Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of cardiometabolic diseases. Circulating mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) profiles could refine risk stratification, but current methods do not account for different fractions of circulating mtDNA. We investigated whether patients with type 2 diabetes and/or heart failure (HF) have a specific signature of the total circulating mtDNA profile, including intracellular and cell-free fractions. Methods: We performed a complete clinical assessment, including blood tests, 12-lead ECG and ultrasound at rest and during cardiopulmonary exercise. Ultrasound congestion was defined at rest as inferior vena cava of ≥ 21 mm, lung B-lines ≥ 4, or discontinuous renal venous flow. In fasting whole blood and plasma samples collected at rest, we simultaneously measured the copy number of the cellular and cell-free components of mtDNA by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) using custom standards. We calculated the ratio of cell mtDNA to cell-free mtDNA as an index of mitochondrial efficiency. Results: We enrolled 120 consecutive patients: 50 (42%) with HF and preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), 40 (33%) with HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and 30 (25%) at risk of developing HF; 42/120 (35%) had diabetes. Cell-free mtDNA was increased in patients with HF (with higher levels in HFrEF than HFpEF) and those with diabetes. Cell-free mtDNA was also higher in patients with systemic inflammation (expressed by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hs-CRP] ≥ 0.2 mg/dL with neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio [NLR] > 3) and more ultrasound signs of congestion. The cell/cell-free mtDNA ratio showed opposite trends (all p < 0.05), but there were no significant differences in cell mtDNA. Cell-free mtDNA and mtDNA ratio independently predicted the presence of ≥ 2 ultrasound signs of congestion and effort intolerance (peak oxygen consumption < 16 mL/kg/min) at ROC analysis and using multivariable regressions after adjustment for age, sex, hs-CRP, NLR, high-sensitivity Troponin T and NT-proBNP. Conclusions: Patients with HF and diabetes have an altered circulating mtDNA signature characterised by higher cell-free mtDNA and lower mtDNA ratio, whereas cellular mtDNA remains unaffected. Cell-free mtDNA and mtDNA ratio are associated with impaired response to exercise, higher systemic inflammation and increased congestion. Circulating mitochondrial profile could be a new biomarker of mitochondrial status in cardiometabolic diseases
Mechanics of Curved Crease Origami: One-Degree-of-Freedom Mechanisms, Distributed Actuation by Spontaneous Curvature, and Cross-Talk Between Multiple Folds
Get PDFAI-based screening of cardiac amyloidosis on standard echocardiography: promising advances but need for real-world validation
No full textEstimating Economic Return of Internal Migration in Italy Applying a Two-Regime Endogenous-Switching Model
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From past critiques to present challenges: A review of LCA approaches and results in the aluminum industry
Get PDFDiagnosis and Prognostication With PET Imaging: The (Next) Future in Light Chain Amyloidosis
No full textIs laser-induced graphene (LIG) environmentally sustainable? Laboratory-scale life cycle assessment of LIG from petroleum- and bio-derived precursors
Get PDFPurpose: This study explores the application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to the production of laser-induced graphene (LIG), a graphene-based material obtained through direct laser ablation of carbon-rich precursors. LIG has been hailed as a sustainable alternative to conventional graphene production technologies due to the potential use of renewable feedstocks; however, no LCA has yet assessed its actual environmental performance. This study presents the first LCA of lab-scale LIG production from one petroleum-derived polymer (polyimide) and two bio-derived sources, based on maize starch and waste almond shell powder, respectively. It identifies process hotspots, focusing on energy demand and precursor contributions, and also highlights methodological challenges in early-stage LCA of emerging technologies. Methods: LIG production process from the three precursors was modeled according to a cradle-to-gate approach, using primary experimental data from laboratory measurements, to construct the Life Cycle Inventory. The functional unit is set as the production of 1 cm2 of LIG on its precursor, meaning that LIG is not removed from the precursor after the scribing process. Environmental impacts were assessed using the Environmental Footprint 3.1 method, including all 16 impact categories, with contribution analysis for each precursor–LIG pair. The Cumulative Energy Demand (CED) was also calculated and compared to other graphene production routes. Lastly, sensitivity analysis was performed, exploring two renewable energy scenarios to assess potential improvements. Results and discussion: Results show that laser energy use is the primary environmental impact driver for LIG production, outweighing the influence of precursor type. As a result, the potential benefits of using bio-derived precursors are not yet captured, as they currently only influence the selection of optimal laser writing parameters. Also, LIG resulted comparable to other graphene production methods in terms of energy demand. At the current technological maturity, the transition toward energy-efficient solutions represents the key step for optimizing the environmental sustainability of the LIG production process. Conclusion: Laser scribing, often proposed as a sustainable approach for graphene synthesis, currently suffers from high energy intensity that offsets the benefits of using renewable precursors. However, results may vary if system boundaries are extended to a cradle-to-grave analysis, eventually considering process scale-up scenarios and including data on the human and environmental toxicity of graphene-based materials. While these aspects cannot yet be integrated into the LCA of LIG production, this study represents a first step toward a clearer understanding of its environmental impact, hopefully contributing to advancing its technological readiness level
