233 research outputs found
Regenerative treatment using a radioelectric asymmetric conveyor as a novel tool in antiaging medicine: an in vitro beta-galactosidase study
No full textSalvatore Rinaldi,1,2 Margherita Maioli,1,3,4 Sara Santaniello,3,4 Alessandro Castagna,1,2 Gianfranco Pigliaru,3,4 Sara Gualini,3,4 Matteo Lotti Margotti,5 Arturo Carta,6 Vania Fontani,1,2 Carlo Ventura1,4,71Department of Regenerative Medicine, Rinaldi Fontani Institute, Florence; 2Department of Neuro Psycho Physio Pathology and Neuro Psycho Physical Optimization, Rinaldi Fontani Institute, Florence; 3Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari; 4Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Stem Cell Engineering, National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, Bologna; 5Department of Information Technology and Statistical Analysis, Rinaldi Fontani Institute, Florence; 6Ophthalmology Section, University of Parma, Parma; 7Cardiovascular Department, S Orsola Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, ItalyBackground: Beta-galactosidase is the most widely used biomarker for highlighting the processes of cellular aging, including neurodegeneration. On this basis, we decided to test in vitro whether a set of rescuing/reparative events previously observed by us in subjects treated with radioelectric asymmetric conveyor (REAC) technology may also involve antagonism of a marker of aging-related degenerative processes, as assessed by a reduction in beta-galactosidase at the cellular level.Methods: Human adipose-derived stem cells were cultured at different passages, ranging from 5 to 20, with or without REAC exposure for 12 hours. The cells were then processed for biochemical beta-galactosidase staining and morphological microscopy analysis.Results: We observed a significant reduction in expression of senescence associated-beta-galactosidase, and a persistence of fibroblast-like morphology typical of human adipose-derived stem cells, even at late passages.Conclusion: Our results indicate the ability of REAC technology to counteract in vitro senescence of human adipose-derived stem cells, and prompt the hypothesis that such technology may be exploited to antagonize in vivo senescence of tissue-resident or transplanted stem cells playing an important role in clinical treatment of age-related processes.Keywords: aging, adipose-derived stem cells, neurodegenerative disease
REAC Noninvasive Neurobiological Stimulation in Autism Spectrum Disorder for Alleviating Stress Impact
No full textOBJECTIVES: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms can become more evident because of different factors. Among these, depression, anxiety, and stress play an important role. Additionally, several studies have revealed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participants with ASD. In previous studies, two noninvasive neurobiological stimulation treatments with radio electric asymmetric conveyer (REAC) technology, called neuropostural optimization (NPO) and neuropsychophysical optimization (NPPO), were shown to be effective in improving the subjective response to environmental stressors in the general population and in ASD population. Based on the proven efficacy of REAC NPO and NPPOs treatments in alleviating anxiety, stress, and depression, the purpose of this study is to verify how these treatments can reduce the severity of ASD symptoms expression, which is aggravated by depression, anxiety, and stress. The treatments’ effects were perceived by caregivers and assessed by the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC). METHODS: This study involved 46 children with a previous diagnosis of ASD made using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule and Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised. The participants received one session of NPO treatment and one NPPOs treatment cycle of 18 sessions, administered within approximately 3 weeks. The Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) was used to evaluate the efficacy of the REAC treatments. ATEC allows to evaluate four clusters (speech or language communication; sociability; sensory or cognitive awareness; and health/physical/behavior) through a numerical scale that measures increasing levels of ASD severity. RESULTS: The comparison between the scores of the ATEC administered pre- and post-REAC treatments highlighted an improvement of ASD symptoms in each of the four clusters of ATEC. CONCLUSIONS: The results confirm the usefulness of REAC treatments to optimize the individual response to environmental stressors and reduce the symptomatic expression and deficits present in ASD
REAC technology and hyaluron synthase 2, an interesting network to slow down stem cell senescence
No full textHyaluronic acid (HA) plays a fundamental role in cell polarity and hydrodynamic processes, affording significant modulation of proliferation, migration, morphogenesis and senescence, with deep implication in the ability of stem cells to execute their differentiating plans. The Radio Electric Asymmetric Conveyer (REAC) technology is aimed to optimize the ions fluxes at the molecular level in order to optimize the molecular mechanisms driving cellular asymmetry and polarization. Here, we show that treatment with 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU), a potent repressor of type 2 HA synthase and endogenous HA synthesis, dramatically antagonized the ability of REAC to recover the gene and protein expression of Bmi1, Oct4, Sox2, and Nanog in ADhMSCs that had been made senescent by prolonged culture up to the 30(th) passage. In senescent ADhMSCs, 4-MU also counteracted the REAC ability to rescue the gene expression of TERT, and the associated resumption of telomerase activity. Hence, the anti-senescence action of REAC is largely dependent upon the availability of endogenous HA synthesis. Endogenous HA and HA-binding proteins with REAC technology create an interesting network that acts on the modulation of cell polarity and intracellular environment. This suggests that REAC technology is effective on an intracellular niche level of stem cell regulation
Noninvasive radioelectric asymmetric conveyor brain stimulation treatment improves balance in individuals over 65 suffering from neurological diseases: pilot study
No full textVania Fontani1, Salvatore Rinaldi1, Alessandro Castagna1, Matteo Lotti Margotti21Department of Neuro Psycho Physio Pathology, Rinaldi Fontani Institute, Florence, Italy; 2Department of Information Technology and Statistical Analysis, Rinaldi Fontani Institute, Florence, ItalyPurpose: In the elderly population, problems with walking and balance are very common. These problems seriously affect the quality of life of the elderly. When gait and balance problems are caused by neurological disease, these problems can be more serious and difficult to handle. The aim of this pilot study was to verify the effect of a noninvasive radioelectric conveyor asymmetric brain stimulation protocol, named neuropostural optimization (NPO), to improve balance in neurological elderly.Patients and methods: Twelve patients suffering from various neurological diseases participated in this study. They were assessed with the Romberg test, which was performed on a computerized stabilometric platform before, immediately following, and 72 hours after NPO was used to improve balance.Results: The results showed that a stabilization of balance was recorded in all subjects a few minutes after administration of NPO. This stabilization increased 72 hours after treatment.Conclusion: The results show that NPO could be a valuable therapeutic approach to improve sensory-motor strategies and neurological control of balance in elderly patients suffering from various neurological diseases.Keywords: Romberg test, instability, imbalance, gait, REAC, neuropostural optimizatio
Radio electric tissue optimization in the treatment of surgical wounds
No full textAlessandro Castagna1, Vania Fontani1, Salvatore Rinaldi1,2, Piero Mannu1 1Rinaldi Fontani Institute, 2Medical School of Occupational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy Purpose: To report preliminary results with the tissue optimization (TO) treatment with a radio electric asymmetric conveyer (REAC) in promoting the repair of surgical wounds. Patients and methods: Two subjects, a 54-year-old male with a tear bruise on the upper third of the leg and a 19-year-old female with a stab wound to the hand, were treated with 12 REAC-TO treatment sessions. Results: In both patients, the wounds showed shorter healing time compared with the time usually required for similar wounds, and good repair quality. Conclusion: REAC device with its specific treatment protocols may be an alternative therapy for wound healing. Keywords: healing time, quality of repair, tissue regeneration, tissue repai
Radio Electric Asymmetric Conveyer: A Novel Neuromodulation Technology in Alzheimer’s and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases
No full textGlobal research in the field of pharmacology has not yet found effective drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thus, alternative therapeutic strategies are under investigation, such as neurostimulation by physical means. Radio electric asymmetric conveyer (REAC) is one of these technologies and has, until now, been used in clinical studies on several psychiatric and neurological disorders with encouraging results in the absence of side effects. Moreover, studies at the cellular level have shown that REAC technology, with the appropriate protocols, is able to induce neuronal differentiation both in murine embryonic cells and in human adult differentiated cells. Other studies have shown that REAC technology is able to positively influence senescence processes. Studies conducted on AD patients and in transgenic mouse models have shown promising results, suggesting REAC could be a useful therapy for certain components of AD
REAC regenerative treatment efficacy in experimental chondral lesions: a pilot study on ovine animal model
No full textRadioelectric asymmetric conveyor (REAC) technology is a platform designed to optimize cell polarity. Cell polarity is a universal biological phenomenon that is implicated in cell differentiation, proliferation, morphogenesis, aging, and rejuvenation. In this work, we investigate a timing and administration protocol for tissue optimization regenerative treatment type C, in order to treat aging-related chondral damage or injuries and gain insights into regenerative processes of articular cartilage in humans. The chondral lesion produced in this study in an animal model (6 knee joints of 4 adult sheep) was 6 mm in diameter and about 2 mm deep. These lesions, which did not involve subchondral bone, tend to increase in size and depth and are not completely repaired with normal hyaline articular cartilage since adult articular cartilage is avascular and has a very slow turnover at the cellular and molecular level. Moreover, the hydration of articular cartilage is reduced with aging and with decreased mitotic activity, synthesis, and population size of chondrocytes. Six months posttreatment, lesions appeared filled, though not completely, with newly generated tissue of the light opalescent color of healthy articular cartilage, which otherwise covered the underlying subchondral bone. The newly formed tissue surface appeared to be quite regular. Nearly complete regeneration of subchondral bone occurred, with little vascularization and ossification nuclei almost absent. The results of this study confirm previous data obtained in vitro on the regenerative effects of REAC technology on human normal and osteoarthritic chondrocytes exposed to IL-1β. The present findings indicate that REAC tissue optimization-regenerative treatment type C is a promising therapeutic tool among the other REAC regenerative treatment protocols for the treatment of cartilage lesions
Effects of regenerative radioelectric asymmetric conveyer treatment on human normal and osteoarthritic chondrocytes exposed to IL-1β. A biochemical and morphological study
No full textGiulia Collodel,1 Antonella Fioravanti,2 Nicola Antonio Pascarelli,2 Antonello Lamboglia,2 Vania Fontani,3 Margherita Maioli,3–5 Sara Santaniello,4,5 Gianfranco Pigliaru,4,5 Alessandro Castagna,3 Elena Moretti,1 Francesca Iacoponi,1 Salvatore Rinaldi,3 Carlo Ventura3,5,6 1Department of Biomedical Sciences (Applied Biology), 2Department of Clinical Medicine and Immunological Sciences (Rheumatology Unit), University of Siena, Siena, Italy; 3Department of Regenerative Medicine, Rinaldi Fontani Institute, Florence, Italy; 4Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy; 5Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Stem Cell Engineering, National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, Bologna, Italy; 6Cardiovascular Department, S Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy Purpose: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative disease characterized by a progressive loss of articular cartilage extracellular matrix and is due to functional impairments occurring in chondrocytes. In previous works, we highlighted that Regenerative Tissue Optimization (TO-RGN) treatment with radioelectric asymmetric conveyer (REAC) technology influenced the gene expression profiles controlling stem cell differentiation and the pluripotency of human skin-derived fibroblasts in vitro. Since interleukin-1 beta signaling has been implicated in the induction and progression of this disease (through metalloproteinase-3 synthesis and nitric oxide production), we investigated whether REAC TO-RGN might influence the biochemical and morphological changes induced by interleukin-1 beta in normal and OA chondrocytes. Methods: The induction of metalloproteinase-3 and proteoglycan synthesis was evaluated by a solid-phase enzyme-amplified sensitivity immunoassay, and nitric oxide production was evaluated with the Griess method. Ultrastructural features were observed by transmission electron microscopy. Results: REAC TO-RGN treatment decreased nitric oxide and metalloproteinase-3 production in normal and OA chondrocytes, while inducing an increase in proteoglycan synthesis. OA chondrocytes were more affected by REAC TO-RGN treatment than were normal chondrocytes. Ultrastructural changes confirmed that REAC TO-RGN may counteract the negative effects of interleukin-1 beta incubation. Conclusion: The results of this in vitro study suggest that REAC TO-RGN treatment may represent a new, promising approach for the management of OA. Keywords: human chondrocytes ultrastructure, metalloproteinase, nitric oxide, proteoglycans, REAC TO-RGN treatmen
Brain activity modification produced by a single radioelectric asymmetric brain stimulation pulse: a new tool for neuropsychiatric treatments. Preliminary fMRI study
No full textSalvatore Rinaldi1,2, Vania Fontani1, Alessandro Castagna1 1Department of Neuro-Psycho-Physio Pathology, Rinaldi Fontani Institute, Florence, Italy; 2Medical School of Occupational Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy Purpose: Radioelectric asymmetric brain stimulation technology with its treatment protocols has shown efficacy in various psychiatric disorders. The aim of this work was to highlight the mechanisms by which these positive effects are achieved. The current study was conducted to determine whether a single 500-millisecond radioelectric asymmetric conveyor (REAC) brain stimulation pulse (BSP), applied to the ear, can effect a modification of brain activity that is detectable using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods: Ten healthy volunteers, six females and four males, underwent fMRI during a simple finger-tapping motor task before and after receiving a single 500-millisecond REAC-BSP. Results: The fMRI results indicate that the average variation in task-induced encephalic activation patterns is lower in subjects following the single REAC pulse. Conclusion: The current report demonstrates that a single REAC-BSP is sufficient to modulate brain activity in awake subjects, able to be measured using fMRI. These initial results open new perspectives into the understanding of the effects of weak and brief radio pulses upon brain activity, and provide the basis for further indepth studies using REAC-BSP and fMRI. Keywords: fMRI, brain stimulation, brain modulation, REAC, neuropsychiatric treatment
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