117,551 research outputs found
THE A3 ADENOSINE RECEPTOR: A LINK BETWEEN INFLAMMATION AND CANCER.
No full textAdenosine is an endogenous and ubiquitous nucleoside that exerts many biological functions
through interaction with 4 distinct subtypes of G protein-coupled receptors divided into A1, A2A,
A2B, and A3. This nucleoside plays an important role in modulating inflammation and
tumorigenesis. In the past most of the anti-inflammatory effects of this nucleoside were thought to
be due to the activation of the A2A subtype, however more recently, the involvement of the A3
subtype has been also considered relevant for the outcome of inflammation.
The figurative elements of blood are important substrates on which adenosine plays multiple
physiological functions. In these reviews we summarized the status of the art on the role of the A3
receptor in different types of immune cells including neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes,
monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells.
It is known that the interaction with the adenosine A3 receptor inhibits several activities of these
cells including the release of TNF-alpha and other potent inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and
IL-8 and increases the production of IL-10 with anti-inflammatory activity.
Recent studies have shown the presence of A3 receptors on neutrophils, which represent the
majority of circulating leukocytes and are the first cells to be recruited into a site of tissue
inflammation in defending the body against infection. In particular, the activation of the A3 receptor
on this cellular type leads to the inhibition of degranulation and superoxide anion production with
consequent anti-inflammatory effects.
Finally, in lymphocytes, activation of A3 receptor subtype would result in a reduction of the
accession of killer T cells to tumor cells by exerting an immunosuppressive effect and suggesting a
role for antagonists of this receptor as anti-tumoral drugs.
In particular, it was recognized more than two centuries ago a close relationship between
inflammation and tumorigenesis, because the tumors arise more easily where there are foci of
inflammation; the inflammatory cells are present in tumors and the overexpression of cytokines and
chemokines may lead to the onset of tumors; also similar molecular targets and intracellular
pathways are activated or dysregulated inflammation and in tumors.
Several studies in literature and obtained in our laboratory have shown that adenosine exerts
important modulatory function in the growth of tumors, giving an essential role in this to the A3
receptor.
Therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate the involvement of adenosine on the regulation of
metalloproteinases and in particular of MMP9 in U87MG glioblastoma cells.
The metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of enzymes able to degrade and remodel the
extracellular matrix. They are involved in many physiological and pathological processes, including
inflammation and tumor growth. In particular, the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM), which
exerts a mechanical and biochemical barrier to cell movement, was demonstrated to be an important
biological process in the invasion and the tumor metastatic process.
In particular, it was demonstrated that MMP9 facilitates in vitro invasion of glioblastoma cells and
the up-regulation of this metalloproteinase is associated with the progression of malignant glioma in
vivo.
The results of this study, obtained by using real time RT-PCR and Western blotting, show that
adenosine is able to increase both MMP9 mRNA and protein levels through the activation of the A3
adenosine receptor.
We also noted that the A3 receptor stimulation led to increased levels of MMP9 protein in cellular
extracts of U87MG cells, through phosphorylation of ERK1 / 2, JNK, Akt / PKB and the
transcription factor AP-1.
The A3 receptor activation also led to an increase in extracellular levels of MMP9 in the
supernatants of glioblastoma cells as evaluated by ELISA and gelatine zymography assays. Finally,
as for the physiological relevance of the A3 receptor-mediated stimulation of MMP-9 we found that
the A3 agonist was responsible for an increase of the invasive ability of U87MG cells. Overall,
these results suggest that adenosine, through activation of the A3 receptor, modulates MMP9 protein
levels and plays a role in the invasion of U87MG cells
Il gioco delle imagini in Dante
No full textIl gioco delle imagini in Dante / Aleardo Sacchetto. - Firenze : Sansoni, 1947
Dedica manoscritta dell\u27autore: Omaggio dell\u27a.
https://galileodiscovery.unipd.it/discovery/fulldisplay?context=L&vid=39UPD_INST:VU1&search_scope=MyInst_and_CI&tab=Everything&docid=alma99001000785020604
Concentration and ROC Curves, Revisited
No full textThis work is aimed at illustrating the strict relationship between a general definition of concentration function appeared quite some time ago on this journal and a widely used measure of the diagnostic strength of a family of binary classifiers indexed by a threshold parameter, the so-called ROC curve. The ROC curve is a common work tool in Statistics, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence, appearing in many applications where a binary classification (diagnosis) procedure is of interest. Hence, it is worth remarking that diagnostic strength and concentration are two sides of the same coin: the higher the concentration of one probability measure with respect to another, the higher the diagnostic strength of the likelihood ratio classification rule
On the definition of a concentration function relevant to the ROC curve
No full textThis work provides a definition of concentration curve alternative to the one presented on this journal by Schechtman and Schechtman (Metron 77:171–178, 2019). Our definition clarifies, at the population level, the relationship between concentration and the omnipresent ROC curve in diagnostic and classification problems
Endoscopic-Assisted Cochlear Implantation in Children with Malformed Ears
No full textObjective: Complex middle and inner ear malformations are considered an important limitation for cochlear implant (CI) with traditional microscopic techniques. The aim of the present study is to describe the results of the endoscopic-assisted CI procedure in children with malformed ears. Study Design: Case series with chart review of consecutive patients. Setting: Two tertiary referral centers: University Hospital of Verona and University Hospital of Modena, Italy. Subjects and Methods: In total, 25 children underwent endoscopic-assisted cochlear implantation between January 2013 and January 2018. The audiologic and neuroradiologic assessment showed profound hearing loss and malformation of the middle and inner ear in all children. A complete review of anatomic features, surgical results, and audiologic outcomes was performed. The surgical technique is described step-by-step, and the outcomes are detailed. Results: All patients (mean age, 3.6 years; range, 2.8-9 years) underwent a transattical/endoscopic-assisted CI procedure. All children showed varying degrees of auditory benefit, as measured by routine audiometry, speech perception tests, and Categories of Auditory Performance scores (mean, 6). No immediate or late postoperative complications were noted. Conclusion: The endoscopic-assisted approach proved to be successful in cochlear implantation. The direct visualization and magnification allow (1) exploration of the tympanic cavity; (2) confirmation of all anatomic features, with strict control of the course of the facial nerve, round window area, and inner ear; and (3) performance of the cochleostomy with adequate insertion of the array
Expanded Transcanal Transpromontorial Approach: A Novel Surgical Technique for Cerebellopontine Angle Vestibular Schwannoma Removal
No full textObjective: Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is a benign tumor of the lateral skull base. Different microscopic surgical techniques are described in literature: the retrosigmoid and translabyrinthine approaches are used to treat big tumors located in the cerebellopontine angle, and the middle cranial fossa approach is utilized for small tumors with good hearing preservation. The expanded transcanal transpromontorial (ExpTT) approach is a combined microscopic-endoscopic technique previously indicated for Koos stage I and II VS and now proposed for larger VS, up to 3 cm in diameter, with linear progression into the cerebellopontine angle and touching the brainstem. Study Design: The study was a retrospective case series of patients who underwent ExpTT surgery for VS in our ear, nose, and throat department. Setting: We reviewed the surgical videos and electrophysiologic data recorded during the surgical operations. Subjects and Methods: From January 2015 to January 2017, 20 patients affected by Koos stage II and III VS underwent surgery in our department with the ExpTT approach. This novel technique is described step by step, with a focus on the surgical procedure and anatomic landmarks; outcomes are detailed in terms of early and late complications. The mean follow-up was 15 months. Results: The ExpTT approach permitted, in all patients, gross total resection of the tumor without any complication and with preservation of facial nerve function. All patients had a good postoperative recovery. Conclusion: The ExpTT technique is a new approach that combines the advantages of a microscopic technique with the ones offered by the endoscope in removal of VS
Influenza della tipologia di sacchetto nella valutazione LCA della filiera di gestione del rifiuto organico
No full textL’intera filiera di trattamento del rifiuto organico è influenzata dalla tipologia di sacchetto utilizzato per la raccolta. Importanti differenze sono state riscontrate confrontando sacchetti in carta e in bioplastica durante lo stoccaggio domestico del rifiuto e in prove di biometanazione in laboratorio. È stata quindi condotta un’analisi del ciclo di vita per valutare la filiera di gestione (stoccaggio domestico, raccolta e trattamento) comparando le due tipologie di sacchetto. L’analisi è stata ripetuta con due approcci metodologici differenti. I sacchetti in carta permettono un’importante riduzione degli impatti ambientali della filiera rispetto ai sacchetti in bioplastica con l’approccio applicato nelle dichiarazioni ambientali di prodotto EPD (Environmental Product Declaration). Con la metodologia applicata negli studi sull’impronta ambientale dei prodotti PEF (Product Environmental Footprint), le differenze tra i due sistemi sono invece più ridotte
Hearing restoration during vestibular schwannoma surgery with transcanal approach: Anatomical and functional preliminary report
No full textObjective: Hearing restoration has always been a dream in vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery. The aim of this study is to describe an endoscopic assisted transcanal retrocochlear approach to the internal auditory canal (IAC) with total removal of the VS; simultaneously we assessed the anatomical and functional aspects of hearing restoration with cochlear implant (CI). Study Design: A retrospective case series. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: Six patients affected by VS involving the fundus of the IAC (Koos stage I–II) were included in this study. The patients already demonstrated symptoms of IAC involvement by the neuroma, with severe to profound hearing loss. Interventions: Transcanal microscopic, endoscopic assisted, approach was chosen for total tumor removal. Preoperative and intraoperative electrophysiological monitoring was performed using electrically evoked auditory brainstem responses (EABR) to evaluate preservation of cochlear function.Main Outcome and Measures: A retrospective evaluation of electrophysiological data collected during surgeries has been conducted; clinical outcomes, surgical complications, and postoperative radiological evaluations were also considered. Results: Total tumor removal was achieved in all patients with no major complications. One patient showed temporary facial palsy (HB stage II). We were able to preserve cochlear function in five out of six patients. In those patients intraoperative monitoring with EABR was performed after tumor removal with good responses. Conclusions: Transcanal retrocochlear approach for VS removal allows preservation of cochlea and cochlear nerve function. This is the first step towards developing an effective surgical technique for VS removal and hearing rehabilitation with CI
Ethmoidal osteoma in children: Literature review and presentation of a case report.
No full textEthmoidal osteoma in children: Literature review and presentation of a case repor
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