87 research outputs found
Theologia moralis : tomus primus
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B-mode e color-Doppler ultrasonografia nella valutazione delle modificazioni uterine in donne asintomatiche, in età postmenopausale con ipertensione arteriosa.
No full textAcquisition of the oocyte developmental competence
No full textOocyte developmental competence: in search of a transcriptional signature
Maurizio Zuccotti1, Valeria Merico2, Martina Belli2, Giulia Vigone2, Silvia Garagna2
1. Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Biotecnologiche e Traslazionali (S.Bi.Bi.T.), Sezione di Anatomia, Istologia ed Embriologia, University of Parma, Italy.
2. Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie ‘Lazzaro Spallanzani’, Laboratorio di Biologia dello Sviluppo, University of Pavia, Italy.
In our laboratory we try to unravel the molecular signature that lays behind the developmental competence of a mammalian egg, aiming at finding markers that could help to the evaluation of the quality of the female gamete. Here, we will present a series of studies that led to the identification of transcriptional networks (TN) differentially expressed in developmentally competent or incompetent oocytes, and also we will show that one of these TNs is maintained during preimplantation and in embryonic stem cells (ESCs), representing a fil rouge of developmental continuity that links the egg to the blastocyst.
To this end, we made use of a model study in which a type specific of metaphase II (MII) oocyte ceases development at the 2-cell stage. Based on their chromatin organisation – as observed after staining with the Hoechst 33342 supravital fluorochrome - fully-grown mouse antral oocytes are classified into surrounded nucleolus (SN) or not surrounded nucleolus (NSN) oocytes (Debey et al., 1992; Mattson and Albertini, 1990; Zuccotti et al., 1995). Following a different time-course and chromatin rearrangements (Belli et al., 2014) both oocytes mature in vitro to MII (MIISN and MIINSN), but, when fertilised, only MIISN may reach full-term development, whereas MIINSN arrest at the 2-cell stage (Zuccotti et al., 1998, 2005).
To understand the developmental incompetence of MIINSN oocytes, we investigated into their transcriptional legacy. Gene expression was compared by whole-transcriptome microarrays analysis, which brought up 380 differentially expressed genes, 77 down-regulated and 303 up-regulated. Further bioinformatics, RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry analyses of these differentially expressed genes and proteins showed an emerging network of 25 genes mostly up-regulated in MIINSN oocytes and assigned to adverse biochemical pathways such as apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction (Zuccotti et al., 2008; 2009, 2011a). Importantly, most of these genes are known to be regulated by the transcription factor OCT4, one of a handful of master transcription factors that regulate cell pluripotency.
In a next step, we compared the whole-transcriptional profile of developmentally competent vs. incompetent oocytes and that of their derived 2-cell embryos; the OCT4-TN was further expanded to 80 transcripts, mostly expressed in cancer cells and 37 notable companions of the OCT4 transcriptome in ESCs (Zuccotti et al., 2011b; 2012). For the first time, these results indicate that the OCT4-TN may represent a developmental link between eggs, early preimplantation embryos and ESCs, indicating that the molecular signature that characterises the ESCs pluripotency may be rooted in oogenesis.
Bibliography
Mattson BA, Albertini DF: Oogenesis: chromatin and microtubule dynamics during meiotic prophase. Mol Reprod Dev 25: 374-383, 1990.
Debey P, Szöllösi MS, Szöllösi D, Vautier D, Girousse A, Besombes D. Competent mouse oocytes isolated from antral follicles exhibit different chromatin organization and follow different maturation dynamics. Mol Reprod Dev 36: 59-74, 1993.
Zuccotti M, Piccinelli A, Giorgi Rossi P, Garagna S, Redi C: Chromatin organization during mouse oocyte growth. Mol Reprod Dev 41: 479-485, 1995.
Zuccotti M, Giorgi Rossi P, Martinez A, Garagna S, Forabosco A, Redi CA. Meiotic and developmental competence of mouse antral oocytes. Biol Reprod 58: 700-704, 1998.
Zuccotti M, Garagna S, Merico V, Monti M, Alberto Redi C: Chromatin organisation and nuclear architecture in growing mouse oocytes. Mol Cell Endocrinol 234: 11-17, 2005.
Zuccotti M, Merico V, Sacchi L, Bellone M, Brink TC, Stefanelli M, Redi CA, Bellazzi R, Adjaye J, Garagna S. Oct-4 regulates the expression of Stella and Foxj2 at the Nanog locus: implications for the developmental competence of mouse oocytes. Hum Reprod. 24: 2225-2237, 2009.
Zuccotti M, Merico V, Cecconi S, Redi CA, Garagna S. What does it take to make a developmentally competent mammalian egg? Hum Reprod Update 17: 525-540, 2011a.
Zuccotti M, Merico V, Bellone M, Mulas F, Sacchi L, Rebuzzini P, Prigione A, Redi CA, Bellazzi R, Adjaye J, Garagna S. Gatekeeper of pluripotency: a common Oct4 transcriptional network operates in mouse eggs and embryonic stem cells. BMC Genomics 12: 1-13, 2011.
Zuccotti M, Merico V, Belli M, Mulas F, Sacchi L, Zupan B, Redi CA, Prigione A, Adjaye J, Bellazzi R, Garagna S. OCT4 and the acquisition of oocyte developmental competence during folliculogenesis. Int J Dev Biol. 56: 853-858, 2012.
Belli M, Vigone G, Merico V, Redi CA, Garagna S, Zuccotti M. Time-lapse dynamics of the mouse oocyte chromatin organisation during meiotic resumption. Biomed Res Int. 2014:207357, 2014
Mondo simbolico : formato d'imprese scelte, spiegate, ed illustrate con sentenze ed eruditioni, sacre e profane : in questa impressione da mille e mille parti ampliato /
No full textSignatures: [a]⁴ b-d⁴ A-3B⁶ 3C⁸ 3D-4X⁶. 3C8 and 4X6 blank.T.p. printed red & black, including vignette. Head- and tail-pieces, initials (some historiated).Added engraved t.p. by Simone Durello after Francesco della Croce. Port. of author engraved by Giacomo Cotta, according to Landwehr after Giorgio Tasniere. Emblematic ill. by Durello.First published Milan, 1653 (F. Mognaga). See Landwehr.Landwehr, J. French, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese emblem books,Mode of access: Internet.Binding, c. 2: old vellum. Title & author written at head of spine, shelf mark "V" at foot. Ownership inscription on t.p. (Capucins, ?Solothurn).Binding, c. 1: decorated paper, back & corners vellum. Author, title & imprint written on spine. Slips from booksellers' catalogs inserted, now mounted on sheet of paper. Ownership inscription of Monastery of St. Bernard in Brisighella on half title.Getty c. 2 imperfect: 4F-4O⁶ wanting
Preliminary safety and efficacy profile of prucalopride in the treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc)-related intestinal involvement: Results from the open label cross-over PROGASS study
No full textBackground: Prokinetics are used to treat enteric dismotility symptoms in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, but they often lack adequate efficacy. The most effective prokinetics belonging to the serotonin (5-HT4) receptor agonists class were withdrawn due to cardiac toxicity in relation to modest 5-HT4 receptor affinity. Prucalopride is a high-affinity 5-HT4 receptor agonist with no major cardiac issues, for which the efficacy in SSc has not yet been assessed. Methods: Forty patients with self-reported mild to moderately severe enteric symptoms were enrolled in a cross-over 2×2 study. Subjects were randomized 1:1 to prucalopride 2 mg/day or no treatment for one month and vice versa after a 2-week washout period. Before and after each sequence the patients compiled the University of California Los Angeles gastrointestinal tract (UCLA GIT) 2.0 questionnaire and the numbers of complete intestinal movements were recorded. Oro-cecal transit time (OCTT) was evaluated by lactulose breath test in a subgroup of patients. Data were evaluated by mixed linear models corrected for the number of laxatives used during the study periods. Results: There were 29 subjects who completed the study; 7 subjects withdrew due to side-effects and 4 subjects were not compliant with the study procedures. As compared to dummy treatment, prucalopride was associated with more intestinal evacuations (p<0.001), improvement of UCLA GIT constipation (-0.672±0.112 vs 0.086±0.115; p<0.001), reflux (-0.409±0.094 vs 0.01±0.096; p<0.005) and bloating (-0.418±0.088 vs -0.084±0.09; p=0.01) scores. Treatment was ranked moderately to more than moderately effective by 22 patients (72.4%). OCTT was significantly reduced during prucalopruide consumption (prucalopride: -20.1±20.1 vs no treatment: 45.8±21.3 minutes; treatment effect=-65.9 minutes; p=0.035). Conclusions: The safety profile of prucalopride in SSc is similar to what is known from the literature. In patients with mild to severe gastrointestinal problems, prucalopride may be effective in treating dismotility symptoms, increasing the number of complete bowel movements and improving bowel transit, reducing reflux disease and bloating
Data for: Improved modelling and critical analysis of future electrification pathways: the case of Tanzania
No full textSupplementary material accompanying the paper:Improved modelling and critical analysis of future electrification pathways: the case of TanzaniaMatteo V. Rocco, Elena Fumagalli, Chiara Vigone, Ambrogio Miserocchi, Emanuela ColomboDepartment of Energy, Politecnico di MilanoCopernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht UniversityCorresponding author: Via Lambruschini 4, 21056 Milan, Italy. E-mail: [email protected]
Formulation and stability evaluation of 3D alginate beads potentially useful for cumulus-oocyte complexes culture
No full textOvarian follicle encapsulation in synthetic or natural matrixes based on biopolymers is potentially a promising approach to in vitro maturation (IVM) process, since it maintains follicle 3D organisation by preventing its flattening and consequent disruption of gap junctions, preserving the functional relationship between oocyte and companion follicle cells. The aim of the work was to optimise physico-chemical parameters of alginate microcapsules for perspective IVM under 3D environments. On this purpose alginate and cross-linking agent concentrations were investigated. Alginate concentration between 0.75% and 0.125% w/w and Mg(2+), Ba(2+), Ca(2+ )at concentration between 100 and 20 mM were tested. Follicle encapsulation was obtained by on purpose modified diffusion setting gelation technique, and evaluated together with beads, chemical and mechanical stability in standard and stressing conditions. Beads permeability was tested towards albumin, fetuin, pyruvate, glucose, pullulan. Results demonstrated that 0.25% alginate cross-linked in 100 mM CaCl2 beads is suitable to follicle encapsulation
A 7-year experience with low blood TSH cutoff levels for neonatal screening reveals an unsuspected frequency of congenital hypothyroidism (CH)
No full textContext The guidelines of the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry advocated the use of low bloodspot TSH (b-TSH) threshold for newborn screening of congenital hypothyroidism (CH). The impact generated by the application of this indication is largely unknown. Objective To determine the impact on CH epidemiology and classification generated by the introduction of low b-TSH cutoff. Design Retrospective study of 629,042 newborns screened with b-TSH cutoffs of 12 (years 1999-2002) or 10 mU/l (2003-2005). Measurements Congenital hypothyroidism incidence and classification. Results were compared with those virtually obtained with the previous cutoff (20 mU/l). Clinical re-evaluation after L-T4 withdrawal of a representative group of 140 CH children at 3-5 years. Results Low b-TSH cutoffs allowed the detection of 435 newborns with confirmed CH (incidence 1:1446). Forty-five percent of CH infants, including 12/141 dysgenesis, would have been missed using the 20 mU/l cutoff. In contrast to current classification, 32% CH newborns had thyroid dysgenesis and 68% had a gland in situ (GIS). Premature birth was present in 20% of cases being associated with a 3-5 fold increased risk of GIS CH. Re-evaluation at 3-5 years showed a permanent thyroid dysfunction in 78% of 59 CH toddlers with GIS. Conclusions The use of low b-TSH cutoff allowed the detection of an unsuspected number of children with neonatal hypothyroidism, evolving in mild permanent thyroid dysfunction later in life. The incidence of CH in this Italian population appears to be double than previously thought with a clear-cut prevalence of functional defects over dysgenetic ones
Data for: Improved modelling and critical analysis of future electrification pathways: the case of Tanzania
No full textSupplementary material accompanying the paper:Improved modelling and critical analysis of future electrification pathways: the case of TanzaniaMatteo V. Rocco, Elena Fumagalli, Chiara Vigone, Ambrogio Miserocchi, Emanuela ColomboDepartment of Energy, Politecnico di MilanoCopernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht UniversityCorresponding author: Via Lambruschini 4, 21056 Milan, Italy. E-mail: [email protected] DATASET IS ARCHIVED AT DANS/EASY, BUT NOT ACCESSIBLE HERE. TO VIEW A LIST OF FILES AND ACCESS THE FILES IN THIS DATASET CLICK ON THE DOI-LINK ABOV
Interactions among pro-inflammatory cytokines, IGF system and thyroid function in pre-pubertal obese subjects.
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