94 research outputs found
Jump and balance test in judo athletes with or without visual impairments
No full textThe study was conducted for four months with 8 judo athletes: 4 sighted people (4 M) and 4 visual impairment people (3 M and 1 F), aged between 18 and 52 (30.75 ± 12.74). According to the IBSA Visual Classification, all visual impairment subjects participating in our study were covered in the B1 category of visual deficit. This is a group represented by patients with no light perception in either eye up to light perception, and with an inability to recognize the shape of a hand at any distance or in any direction. From our cohort it was excluded subjects who have had low extremities musculoskeletal, neurological, or orthopaedic disorders in the previous six months. The aim of the study was to evaluate their balance with both closed and opened eyes and to set their lower limbs’ strength: these are indispensable characteristics to carry out technical actions of judo. Anthropometric measures were compared between groups and data about jump protocol and balance protocol were analysed. Results of current research showed that postural stability is different in function of assessment with closed and open eyes. The result of the jump tests differs because the data do not show significant differences between long jump and high jump. The comparison between blinded and sighted judo athletes highlighted greater difficulties with eyes closed for sighted athletes than blinded ones
Production of Cardiac Extracellular Matrix from Adult Human Fibroblasts for Culture Dish Coating
No full textThe myocardium is composed of cardiomyocytes and an even greater number of fibroblasts, the latter being responsible for extracellular matrix production. From the early stages of heart development throughout the lifetime, in both normal and pathological conditions, the composition of the extracellular matrix changes and influences myocardium structure and function. The purpose of the method described here is to obtain the substrate for the culture of cardiac cells in vitro (termed cardiac ECM), mimicking the myocardial extracellular matrix in vivo. To this end, fibroblasts isolated from the adult human heart were cultured to confluence on gelatin-coated dishes to produce the myocardium-specific extracellular matrix. The subsequent removal of cardiac fibroblasts, while preserving the deposited cardiac ECM, produced the substrate for studying the influence of the myocardium-specific extracellular matrix on other cells. Importantly, the composition of the fibroblast-derived coating of the culture dish changes according to the in vivo activity of the fibroblasts isolated from the heart, allowing subsequent studies of cell-matrix interactions in different normal and pathological conditions
Non-modified RNA-Based Reprogramming of Human Dermal Fibroblasts into Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
No full textThe generation of pluripotent stem cells from adult somatic cells by cell reprogramming has put a whole new perspective on stem cell biology and stem cell-based regenerative medicine. Cell reprogramming acts through the introduction of key genes that regulate and maintain the pluripotent cell state. In this chapter, we describe the optimized protocol for the efficient isolation of fibroblasts from a skin punch biopsy and the subsequent easy and effective generation of integration-free induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) colonies forcing the expression of specific factors by non-modified RNAs. © 2021, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
Cardiac-derived extracellular matrix: A decellularization protocol for heart regeneration
No full textExtracellular matrix (ECM) is a fundamental component of the heart, guiding vital cellular processes during organ homeostasis. Most cardiovascular diseases lead to a remarkable remodeling of the ECM, accompanied by the formation of a fibrotic tissue that heavily compromises the heart function. Effective therapies for managing fibrosis and promoting physiological ECM repair are not yet available. The production of a decellularized extracellular matrix (d-ECM) serving as a three-dimensional and bioactive scaffold able to modulate cellular behavior and activities is considered crucial to achieve a successful regeneration. The protocol represents a step-by-step method to obtain a decellularized cardiac matrix through the combination of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and Triton X-100. Briefly, cardiac samples obtained from left ventricles of explanted, pathological human hearts were dissected and washed to remove residual body fluids. Samples were then snap-frozen and sliced by a cryostat into 350 μm thick sections. The sections obtained were decellularized using a solution containing 1% Triton X-100 and 1% SDS in combination, for 24 hours, until observing the color change from brownish-red to translucent-white. As a result, the protocol shows efficiency in preserving ECM architecture and protein composition during the whole process, suggesting that it is worthwhile, highly reproducible and produces a well- preserved decellularized extracellular matrix from cardiac samples. Notwithstanding, some limitations need to be addressed, such as the risk for microbial contamination and the unpredictable trend of the protocol when applied to decellularize samples other than myocardium, vessels, or skin. These issues require antibiotics mixture supplement during the procedure followed by UV sterilization, and appropriate adjustments for a tissue-specific utilization, respectively. The protocol is intended to produce a cardiac d-ECM for cell settlement, representing the ideal scaffold for tissue engineering purposes
Lotta alla plastica ed ecosistemi marini. Il quadro giuridico all’indomani della direttiva UE/2019/904
No full textNell’attuale contesto sociale, è particolarmente avvertita, a livello mondiale, l’esigenza di contenere l’impatto ambientale relativo alla produzione, consumo e dispersione nell’ambiente della plastica monouso non riciclabile o riutilizzabile. Proprio l’emergenza globale connessa alla diffusione di tale materiale viene illustrata nella prima parte del presente studio, ove ne vengono forniti anche allarmanti numeri. Successivamente, l’articolo prosegue con l’analisi degli obiettivi e delle misure stabilite nell’ambito della strategia europea per la plastica e dalla recente direttiva UE/2019/904. Dietro gli obiettivi e le soluzioni giuridiche offerte dall’Unione europea, infatti, v’è la speranza – condivisa dall’Autore – che le sfide connesse alla produzione, al consumo e alla fine del ciclo di vita della plastica possano trasformarsi in opportunità, tanto per assicurare a tutti un ambiente più sano e pulito, quanto per condurre l’industria europea della plastica all’innovazione e alla crescita, con maggiori livelli anche occupazionali.The article describes, first of all, the global emergency related to the production, consumption and dispersion in the environment of non-recyclable or reusable disposable plastic. Subsequently, the article continues with the analysis of the objectives and measures established in the context of the European strategy for plastics and the recent directive EU/2019/904. In fact, behind the objectives and legal solutions offered by the European Union, there is the hope, shared by the author, that the challenges connected to the production, consumption and end of the life cycle of plastic can become opportunities, both for guarantee everyone a healthier environment, both to drive the European plastics industry towards innovation and growth, also increasing employment levelsEl artículo describe, en primer lugar, la emergencia mundial relacionada con la producción, el consumo y la dispersión en el medio ambiente del plástico de un solo uso no reciclable o reutilizable y sigue, con posterioridad, con el análisis de los objetivos y medidas establecidos dentro de la estrategia europea para el plástico y la reciente directiva UE/2019/904. De hecho, detrás de los objetivos y las soluciones legales ofrecidas por la Unión Europea, existe la esperanza, compartida por el autor, de que los desafíos relacionados con la producción, el consumo y el final del ciclo de vida del plástico puedan convertirse en oportunidades, tanto para garantizar a todos un entorno más saludable, así como para liderar la industria europea del plástico hacia la innovación y el crecimiento, aumentando también los niveles de empleo
Metabolic Reprogramming of Cancer Associated Fibroblasts: The Slavery of Stromal Fibroblasts
No full textCancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the main stromal cell type of solid tumour microenvironment and undergo an activation process associated with secretion of growth factors, cytokines, and paracrine interactions. One of the important features of solid tumours is the metabolic reprogramming that leads to changes of bioenergetics and biosynthesis in both tumour cells and CAFs. In particular, CAFs follow the evolution of tumour disease and acquire a catabolic phenotype: in tumour tissues, cancer cells and tumour microenvironment form a network where the crosstalk between cancer cells and CAFs is associated with cell metabolic reprogramming that contributes to CAFs activation, cancer growth, and progression and evasion from cancer therapies. In this regard, the study of CAFs metabolic reprogramming could contribute to better understand their activation process, the interaction between stroma, and cancer cells and could offer innovative tools for the development of new therapeutic strategies able to eradicate the protumorigenic activity of CAFs. Therefore, this review focuses on CAFs metabolic reprogramming associated with both differentiation process and cancer and stromal cells crosstalk. Finally, therapeutic responses and potential anticancer strategies targeting CAFs metabolic reprogramming are reviewed
Visual Thinking Strategies for medico-anatomical teaching and rheumatological diagnostics: the case of M. L. Greville Cooksey’s Maria Virgo (1915)
No full textThe paper exemplifies the use of Visual Thinking Strategies method in the
biomedical area as implemented in the degree course in Medicine and Surgery at the
University of Florence through the analysis of the Pre-Raphaelite painting Maria Virgo
by May Louise Greville Cooksey. The team includes an art historian, a medical historian,
two palaeopathologists, a rheumatologist, an endocrinologist and two anatomist,
who have adopted their disciplines’ diagnostic methodologies. The nodose hands of
the Virgin Mary in the painting remind the art historian of Botticelli’s and Filippino
Lippi’s Madonne, models for the Pre-Raphaelites, whereas the rheumatologist conjectures
that she suffers from knuckle pads
Mitochondrial Flexibility of Breast Cancers: A Growth Advantage and a Therapeutic Opportunity
No full textBreast cancers are very heterogeneous tissues with several cell types and metabolic pathways together sustaining the initiation and progression of disease and contributing to evasion from cancer therapies. Furthermore, breast cancer cells have an impressive metabolic plasticity that is regulated by the heterogeneous tumour microenvironment through bidirectional interactions. The structure and accessibility of nutrients within this unstable microenvironment influence the metabolism of cancer cells that shift between glycolysis and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) to produce adenosine triphosphate (ATP). In this scenario, the mitochondrial energetic pathways of cancer cells can be reprogrammed to modulate breast cancer’s progression and aggressiveness. Moreover, mitochondrial alterations can lead to crosstalk between the mitochondria and the nucleus, and subsequently affect cancer tissue properties. This article reviewed the metabolic plasticity of breast cancer cells, focussing mainly on breast cancer mitochondrial metabolic reprogramming and the mitochondrial alterations influencing nuclear pathways. Finally, the therapeutic strategies targeting molecules and pathways regulating cancer mitochondrial alterations are highlighted
Decellularization for the Preparation of Highly Preserved Human Acellular Skin Matrix for Regenerative Medicine
No full textThe Role of Fibroblasts in Melanoma Development: From Tumor Microenvironment Remodeling to Pre-Metastatic Niche Formation
No full textMelanoma is the most aggressive form of skin cancer, and despite significant therapeutic advances over the past decade, a substantial number of patients still progress to a fatal outcome. The initiation and progression of melanoma are strongly influenced by interactions between melanoma cells and other components of the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review, we focus on the interplay between fibroblasts resident in the tumor microenvironment and tumor cells. In particular, we examine the molecular mechanisms through which melanoma cells induce the transformation of resident fibroblasts into their active form, known as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). We also explore the role of CAFs in shaping the melanoma microenvironment (MME) and in organizing the pre-metastatic niche, a specialized microenvironment that forms in distant organs or tissues to support the survival and expansion of metastatic melanoma cells. Finally, we discuss emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at disrupting the interactions between CAFs, melanoma cells, and other components of the tumor microenvironment to improve treatment outcomes
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