17 research outputs found
Intermodal Passenger Transport after COVID-19 Pandemic Breakout
No full textThe current paper is based on data collected within the framework of the Inter-Connect PLUS project, with a focus on incorporating new norms before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire was conducted in four countries of the Adriatic-Ionian (ADRION) Region: Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, and Albania. The collected data from the survey was analyzed to draw conclusions about the travel modes citizens used before, during, and are willing to use after the pandemic. The paper closes with recommendations, in the form of a Roadmap, highlighting the potential positive impact of the pandemic on the future of sustainable mobility
Disulfides from the Brown Alga <i>Dictyopteris membranacea</i> Suppress M1 Macrophage Activation by Inducing AKT and Suppressing MAPK/ERK Signaling Pathways
No full textInflammation is part of the organism's response to deleterious stimuli, such as pathogens, damaged cells, or irritants. Macrophages orchestrate the inflammatory response obtaining different activation phenotypes broadly defined as M1 (pro-inflammatory) or M2 (homeostatic) phenotypes, which contribute to pathogen elimination or disease pathogenesis. The type and magnitude of the response of macrophages are shaped by endogenous and exogenous factors and can be affected by nutrients or therapeutic agents. Multiple studies have shown that natural products possess immunomodulatory properties and that marine algae contain products with such action. We have previously shown that disulfides isolated from Dictyopteris membranacea suppress nitric oxide (NO) production from activated macrophages, suggesting potential anti-inflammatory actions. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory mechanism of action of bis(5-methylthio-3-oxo-undecyl) disulfide (1), 5-methylthio-1-(3-oxo-undecyl) disulfanylundecan-3-one (2) and 3-hexyl-4,5-dithiocycloheptanone (3). Our results showed that all three compounds inhibited M1 activation of macrophages by down regulating the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF alpha, IL-6 and IL-12, suppressed the expression of the NO converting enzyme iNOS, and enhanced expression of the M2 activation markers Arginase1 and MRC1. Moreover, disulfides 1 and 2 suppressed the expression of glucose transporters GLUT1 and GLUT3, suggesting that compounds 1 and 2 may affect cell metabolism. We showed that this was due to AKT/MAPK/ERK signaling pathway modulation and specifically by elevated AKT phosphorylation and MAPK/ERK signal transduction reduction. Hence, disulfides 1-3 can be considered as potent candidates for the development of novel anti-inflammatory molecules with homeostatic properties.</p
Origin of Critical Metals in Fe–Ni Laterites from the Balkan Peninsula: Opportunities and Environmental Risk
No full textAs the global energy sector is expected to experience a gradual shift towards renewable energy sources, access to special metals in known resources is of growing concern within the EU and at a worldwide scale. This is a review on the Fe–Ni ± Co-laterite deposits in the Balkan Peninsula, which are characterized by multistage weathering/redeposition and intense tectonic activities. The ICP-MS analyses of those laterites indicated that they are major natural sources of Ni and Co, with ore grading from 0.21 to 3.5 wt% Ni and 0.03 to 0.31 wt% Co, as well as a significant Sc content (average 55 mg/kg). The SEM-EDS analyses revealed that fine Fe-, Ni-, Co-, and Mn-(hydr)oxides are dominant host minerals and that the enrichment in these elements is probably controlled by the post-formation evolution of initial ore redeposition. The paucity of rare earth element (REE) within the typical Fe–Ni laterite ore and the preferential occurrence of Co (up to 0.31 wt%), REE content (up to 6000 mg/kg ΣREE), and REE-minerals along with Ni, Co, and Mn (asbolane and silicates) towards the lowermost part of the Lokris (C. Greece) laterite ore suggest that their deposition is controlled by epigenetic processes. The platinum-group element (PGE) content in those Fe–Ni laterites, reaching up to 88 μg/kg Pt and 26 μg/kg Pd (up to 186 μg/kg Pd in one sample), which is higher than those in the majority of chromite deposits associated with ophiolites, may indicate important weathering and PGE supergene accumulation. Therefore, the mineralogical and geochemical features of Fe–Ni laterites from the Balkan Peninsula provide evidence for potential sources of certain critical metals and insights to suitable processing and metallurgical methods. In addition, the contamination of soil by heavy metals and irrigation groundwater by toxic Cr(VI), coupled with relatively high Cr(VI) concentrations in water leachates for laterite samples, altered ultramafic rocks and soils neighboring the mining areas and point to a potential human health risk and call for integrated water–soil–plant investigations in the basins surrounding laterite mines
Origin of Critical Metals in Fe-Ni Laterites from the Balkan Peninsula: Opportunities and Environmental Risk
No full textAs the global energy sector is expected to experience a gradual shift towards renewable energy sources, access to special metals in known resources is of growing concern within the EU and at a worldwide scale. This is a review on the Fe-Ni +/- Co-laterite deposits in the Balkan Peninsula, which are characterized by multistage weathering/redeposition and intense tectonic activities. The ICP-MS analyses of those laterites indicated that they are major natural sources of Ni and Co, with ore grading from 0.21 to 3.5 wt% Ni and 0.03 to 0.31 wt% Co, as well as a significant Sc content (average 55 mg/kg). The SEM-EDS analyses revealed that fine Fe-, Ni-, Co-, and Mn-(hydr)oxides are dominant host minerals and that the enrichment in these elements is probably controlled by the post-formation evolution of initial ore redeposition. The paucity of rare earth element (REE) within the typical Fe-Ni laterite ore and the preferential occurrence of Co (up to 0.31 wt%), REE content (up to 6000 mg/kg sigma REE), and REE-minerals along with Ni, Co, and Mn (asbolane and silicates) towards the lowermost part of the Lokris (C. Greece) laterite ore suggest that their deposition is controlled by epigenetic processes. The platinum-group element (PGE) content in those Fe-Ni laterites, reaching up to 88 mu g/kg Pt and 26 mu g/kg Pd (up to 186 mu g/kg Pd in one sample), which is higher than those in the majority of chromite deposits associated with ophiolites, may indicate important weathering and PGE supergene accumulation. Therefore, the mineralogical and geochemical features of Fe-Ni laterites from the Balkan Peninsula provide evidence for potential sources of certain critical metals and insights to suitable processing and metallurgical methods. In addition, the contamination of soil by heavy metals and irrigation groundwater by toxic Cr(VI), coupled with relatively high Cr(VI) concentrations in water leachates for laterite samples, altered ultramafic rocks and soils neighboring the mining areas and point to a potential human health risk and call for integrated water-soil-plant investigations in the basins surrounding laterite mines
Convex-probe endobronchial ultrasound for thyroid biopsy a new hybrid method
No full textNowadays we use novel diagnostic equipment for lung cancer. Bronchoscopy was the tip of the arrow for diagnosis, however; ultrasound systems have brought a revolution. We have the radial-endobronchial ultrasound for peripheral lesions and the convex probe endobronchial ultrasound for central lesions. Ultrasound endoscopic systems can be used for the diagnosis of any lesion that can be approached from the airways. In the current manuscript we will present two methods for the biopsy of thyroid gland. The first method is using anesthisiological tools and the second tools from the ear, nose and throat department. © 2018 The Author
A Review of the Significance in Measuring Preoperative and Postoperative Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA) Values in Patients with Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma (MTC)
No full textBackground and Objectives: Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) accounts for 1–2% of all thyroid malignancies, and it originates from parafollicular “C” cells. Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a tumor marker, mainly for gastrointestinal malignancies. There are references in literature where elevated CEA levels may be the first finding in MTC. The aim of this study is to determine the importance of measuring preoperative and postoperative CEA values in patients with MTC and to define the clinical significance of the correlation between CEA and the origin of C cells. Materials and Methods: The existing and relevant literature was reviewed by searching for articles and specific keywords in the scientific databases of PubMedCentraland Google Scholar (till December 2020). Results: CEA has found its place, especially at the preoperative level, in the diagnostic approach of MTC. Preoperative CEA values >30 ng/mL indicate extra-thyroid disease, while CEA values >100 ng/mL are associated with lymph node involvement and distant metastases. The increase in CEA values preoperatively is associated with larger size of primary tumor, presence of lymph nodes, distant metastases and a poorer prognosis. The clinical significance of CEA values for the surgeon is the optimal planning of surgical treatment. In the recent literature, C cells seem to originate from the endoderm of the primitive anterior gut at the ultimobranchial bodies’ level. Conclusions: Although CEA is not a specific biomarker of the disease in MTC, itsmeasurement is useful in assessing the progression of the disease. The embryonic origin of C cells could explain the increased CEA values in MTC
A perspective on muscle phenotyping in musculoskeletal research
No full textMusculoskeletal research should synergistically investigate bone and muscle to inform approaches for maintaining mobility and to avoid bone fractures. The relationship between sarcopenia and osteoporosis, integrated in the term 'osteosarcopenia', is underscored by the close association shown between these two conditions in many studies, whereby one entity emerges as a predictor of the other. In a recent workshop of Working Group (WG) 2 of the EU Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action 'Genomics of MusculoSkeletal traits Translational Network' (GEMSTONE) consortium (CA18139), muscle characterization was highlighted as being important, but currently under-recognized in the musculoskeletal field. Here, we summarize the opinions of the Consortium and research questions around translational and clinical musculoskeletal research, discussing muscle phenotyping in human experimental research and in two animal models: zebrafish and mouse
Emergence of Clonally-Related South Asian Clade I Clinical Isolates of Candida auris in a Greek COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit
No full textCandida auris has recently emerged as a multidrug-resistant yeast implicated in various healthcare-associated invasive infections and hospital outbreaks. In the current study, we report the first five intensive care unit (ICU) cases affected by C. auris isolates in Greece, during October 2020–January 2022. The ICU of the hospital was converted to a COVID-19 unit on 25 February 2021, during the third wave of COVID-19 in Greece. Identification of the isolates was confirmed by Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time of Flight mass spectroscopy (MALDI-TOF]. Antifungal susceptibility testing was performed by the EUCAST broth microdilution method. Based on the tentative CDC MIC breakpoints, all five C. auris isolates were resistant to fluconazole (≥32 μg/mL), while three of them exhibited resistance to amphotericin B (≥2 μg/mL). The environmental screening also revealed the dissemination of C. auris in the ICU. Molecular characterization of C. auris clinical and environmental isolates was performed by MultiLocus Sequence Typing (MLST) of a set of four genetic loci, namely ITS, D1/D2, RPB1 and RPB2, encoding for the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of the ribosomal subunit, the large ribosomal subunit region and the RNA polymerase II largest subunit, respectively. MLST analysis showed that all isolates possessed identical sequences in the four genetic loci and clustered with the South Asian clade I strains. Additionally, PCR amplification and sequencing of the CJJ09_001802 genetic locus, encoding for the “nucleolar protein 58” that contains clade-specific repeats was performed. Sanger sequence analysis of the TCCTTCTTC repeats within CJJ09_001802 locus also assigned the C. auris isolates to the South Asian clade I. Our study confirms that C. auris is an emerging yeast pathogen in our region, especially in the setting of the ongoing COVID-19 worldwide pandemic. Adherence to strict infection control is needed to restrain further spread of the pathogen
Caloric restriction promotes resolution of atherosclerosis in obese mice, while weight regain accelerates its progression
No full textWhile weight loss is highly recommended for those with obesity, >60% regain their lost weight. This weight cycling is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, relative to never having lost weight. How weight loss and regain directly influence atherosclerotic inflammation is unknown. Thus, we studied short-term caloric restriction (stCR) in obese hypercholesterolemic mice, without confounding effects from changes in diet composition. Weight loss promoted atherosclerosis resolution independent of plasma cholesterol. Single-cell RNA sequencing and subsequent mechanistic studies indicated that this can be partly attributed to a unique subset of macrophages accumulating with stCR in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT) and atherosclerotic plaques. These macrophages, distinguished by high expression of Fc γ receptor 4 (Fcgr4), helped to clear necrotic cores in atherosclerotic plaques. Conversely, weight regain (WR) following stCR accelerated atherosclerosis progression with disappearance of Fcgr4+ macrophages from eWAT and plaques. Furthermore, WR caused reprogramming of immune progenitors, sustaining hyperinflammatory responsiveness. In summary, we have developed a model to investigate the inflammatory effects of weight cycling on atherosclerosis and the interplay between adipose tissue, bone marrow, and plaques. The findings suggest potential approaches to promote atherosclerosis resolution in obesity and weight cycling through induction of Fcgr4+ macrophages and inhibition of immune progenitor reprogramming
