Search

Many signaling pathways, molecular and cellular actors which are critical for wound healing have been implicated in cancer metastasis. These two conditions are a complex succession of cellular biological events and accurate regulation of these events is essential. Apart from inflammation, macrophages-released ROS arise as major regulators of these processes. But, whatever the pathology concerned, oxidative stress is a complicated phenomenon to control and requires a finely tuned balance over the different stages and responding cells. This review provides an overview of the pivotal role of oxidative stress in both wound healing and metastasis, encompassing the contribution of macrophages. Indeed, macrophages are major ROS producers but also appear as their targets since ROS interfere with their differentiation and function. Elucidating ROS functions in wound healing and metastatic spread may allow the development of innovative therapeutic strategies involving redox modulators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The turn-on mutations of the KRAS gene, coding a small GTPase coupling growth factor signaling, are contributing to nearly 25% of all human cancers, leading to highly malignant tumors with poor outcomes. Targeting of oncogenic KRAS remains a most challenging task in oncology. Recently, the specific G12C mutant KRAS inhibitors have been developed but with a limited clinical outcome because they acquire drug resistance. Alternatively, exploiting a metabolic breach of KRAS-mutant cancer cells related to a glucose-dependent sensitivity to oxidative stress is becoming a promising indirect cancer targeting approach. Here, we discuss the use of a vitamin C (VC) acting in high dose as an oxidative "Trojan horse" agent for KRAS-mutant cancer cells that can be potentiated with another oxidizing drug arsenic trioxide (ATO) to obtain a potent and selective cytotoxic impact. Moreover, we outline the advantages of VC's non-natural enantiomer, D-VC, because of its distinctive pharmacokinetics and lower toxicity. Thus, the D-VC and ATO combination shows a promising path to treat KRAS-mutant cancers in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two analogues of the MS3 aptamer, which was previously shown to have an exquisite capability to selectively bind and modulate the activity of mutant huntingtin (mHTT), have been here designed and evaluated in their physicochemical and biological properties. Featured by a distinctive propensity to form complex G-quadruplex structures, including large multimeric aggregates, the original 36-mer MS3 has been truncated to give a 33-mer (here named MS3-33) and a 17-mer (here named MS3-17). A combined use of different techniques (UV, CD, DSC, gel electrophoresis) allowed a detailed physicochemical characterization of these novel G-quadruplex-forming aptamers, tested in vitro on SH-SY5Y cells and in vivo on a Drosophila Huntington's disease model, in which these shorter MS3-derived oligonucleotides proved to have improved bioactivity in comparison with the parent aptamer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiotherapy represents a highly targeted and efficient treatment choice in many cancer types, both with curative and palliative intents. Nevertheless, radioresistance, consisting in the adaptive response of the tumor to radiation-induced damage, represents a major clinical problem. A growing body of the literature suggests that mechanisms related to mitochondrial changes and metabolic remodeling might play a major role in radioresistance development. In this work, the main contributors to the acquired cellular radioresistance and their relation with mitochondrial changes in terms of reactive oxygen species, hypoxia, and epigenetic alterations have been discussed. We focused on recent findings pointing to a major role of mitochondria in response to radiotherapy, along with their implication in the mechanisms underlying radioresistance and radiosensitivity, and briefly summarized some of the recently proposed mitochondria-targeting strategies to overcome the radioresistant phenotype in cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waldenström macroglobulinemia is an indolent, B-cell lymphoma without a known cure. The bone marrow microenvironment and cytokines both play key roles in Waldenström macroglobulinemia (WM) tumor progression. Only one FDA-approved drug exists for the treatment of WM, Ibrutinib, but treatment plans involve a variety of drugs and inhibitors. This review explores avenues of tumor progression and targeted drug therapy that have been investigated in WM and related B-cell lymphomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injection moulding is a polymer processing method of choice for making plastic parts on industrial scale, but its traditional mould is made from tooling steel with time-consuming and costly production. Additive manufacturing technologies arise as an alternative for creating mould inserts at lower costs and shorter lead times. In this context, this study describes a series of stereolithography (SLA)-printed injection mould inserts fabricated from two photopolymer resins, utilised to mould standard tensile specimens of a commercial-grade polypropylene, aiming to evaluate effects on the polymer's thermal and mechanical properties. Our results demonstrated that the glass fibre-filled resin inserts withstood more moulding cycles before failure, had superior mechanical properties, higher Tg and greater thermal conductivity. Calorimetric data revealed that PP thermal properties and degree of crystallinity were little affected, while mechanical testing suggests a significant effect in the elongation at break. Thus, these findings highlight the importance of adequate heat extraction during injection moulding and endorse further application of SLA mould inserts for the manufacturing of injection-moulded plastic parts in the case of prototypes or small batches, provided suitable cooling is made available, contributing to the feasibility and affordability of employing this approach for an industrial setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root mustard is plentiful in vitamins and minerals but shrivels and molds easily. In this study, freshly harvested root mustard was fumigated with various concentrations of 1-Methycyclopropene(1-MCP) (1 µL L−1, 1.5 µL L−1, and 2.0 µL L−1) for 24 h and stored at ambient temperature (17 ± 1 °C) for 35 d. Our data showed that 1-MCP fumigation had a striking preservation effect on maintaining weight loss, fruit firmness, lignin, Vc content, and moisture content, inhibiting respiratory intensity and ethylene release rate, as well as decreasing cell permeability and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and maintaining cell membrane integrity of root mustard. In addition, lipoxygenase (LOX), pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities were significantly reduced throughout the storage period. In contrast, the activities of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), phenylalanine deaminase (PAL), and peroxidase (POD) remained at high levels. Results showed that 1-MCP treatments were effective in maintaining the quality of root mustard, and the preservation effect of 1.0 μL·L−1 1-MCP was better than other concentrations of 1-MCP. This study could serve as a theoretical reference for root mustard preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematological malignancy. Despite the huge therapeutic progress thanks to the introduction of novel therapies, MM remains an incurable disease. Extensive research is currently ongoing to find new options. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression at a post-transcriptional level. Aberrant expression of miRNAs in MM is common. Depending on their role in MM development, miRNAs have been reported as oncogenes and tumor suppressors. It was demonstrated that specific miRNA alterations using miRNA mimics or antagomirs can normalize the gene regulatory network and signaling pathways in the microenvironment and MM cells. These properties make miRNAs attractive targets in anti-myeloma therapy. However, only a few miRNA-based drugs have been entered into clinical trials. In this review, we discuss the role of the miRNAs in the pathogenesis of MM, their current status in preclinical/clinical trials, and the mechanisms by which miRNAs can theoretically achieve therapeutic benefit in MM treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Human chronic liver disease is reported to be associated with alterations in amino acids metabolism, with a decrease in serum branched-chain amino acids and an increase in aromatic amino acids. A decreased Fischer ratio (branched to aromatic amino acids ratio) has showed prognostic significance and is a therapeutic target in human cirrhosis. In dogs, few studies have been performed, and the Fischer ratio seems to be reduced in animals with congenital portosystemic shunts. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum amino acids in dogs with chronic hepatic inflammation compared with healthy dogs. The serum amino acids in dogs with chronic hepatitis were also evaluated in relation to their histological severity. Eighteen amino acidic metabolites were measured using the leftover serum samples of 16 dogs with histological chronic hepatitis and 25 healthy dogs. Several amino acid concentrations were significantly different between dogs diagnosed with chronic hepatitis and healthy controls. In human medicine, aromatic amino acids seem to increase during chronic hepatitis, whereas isoleucine decreases. The Fischer ratio was significantly reduced if higher grades of fibrosis were present. Even if total serum proteins did not significantly differ between groups, we observed qualitative imbalances in serum amino acids among dogs presenting with chronic hepatitis. In humans, chronic liver disease may cause alterations in amino acids (AAs) metabolism, with serum branched-chain AAs (BCAAs) decreasing and aromatic AAs (AAAs) increasing. A reduced Fischer ratio (BCAAs/AAAs) has been found to be associated with hepatic fibrosis and is useful for assessing prognosis in human patients. In veterinary medicine, few studies have been performed, and in contrast to human patients, dogs with different kinds of hepatopathy tend to show both increased AAAs and BCAAs. In dogs, the association between histological scores and serum AAs has not been previously investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum AAs in dogs with chronic hepatitis (CH) compared with a healthy control group (C) and, among CH dogs, in relation to their histological fibrosis and necroinflammatory activity scores. Leftover serum samples of 16 dogs with histological CH and 25 healthy dogs were employed. Serum AAs were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Proline and the AAAs phenylalaine and tyrosine progressively increased with the histological severity. In contrast, cysteine, tryptophan and BCAA isoleucine progressively reduced. Lysine and the BCAAs leucine and valine showed a non-linear trend with the histological findings. The BCAAs/AAAs ratio was significatively reduced if higher grades of liver fibrosis were present. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper discusses a new approach for the experimental determination of modal parameters (resonant frequencies, modal shapes and damping coefficients) based on measured displacement values, using the non-contact optical method of digital image correlation (DIC). The output is a newly developed application module that, based on a three-dimensional displacement matrix from the experimental measurement results, can construct a frequency response function (FRF) for the purpose of experimental and operational modal analysis. From this frequency response function, the modal parameters of interest are able to be determined. The application module has been designed for practical use in Scilab 6.1.0, and its code interfaces directly with the ISTRA4D high-speed camera software. The module was built on measurements of a steel plate excited by an impact hammer to simulate experimental modal analysis. Verification of the correctness of the computational algorithm or the obtained modal parameters of the excited sheet metal plate was performed by simulation in the numerical software Abaqus, whose modal shapes and resonant frequencies showed high agreement with the results of the newly developed application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broccoli is a highly perishable crop, due to its high respiration rate, and rapidly loses quality under inappropriate handling temperatures. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of commercial hydrocooling (HY), forced-air cooling (FA) or slushed-ice cooling (SI) on the quality and shelf-life of two commercial broccoli cultivars ('Marathon' and 'Eastern Crown') grown in northeast Florida during the early spring season. Following HY and FA, individual bunches ('Marathon') or crowns ('Eastern Crown') were placed in plastic film bags and stored at 1 °C for 7 days then transferred to 5 °C for 8 days to simulate retail conditions. It was found that HY removed the field heat 3.6 and 4.8 times faster than FA and SI, respectively. For both cultivars, using a texture analyzer, broccoli cooled by SI were softer (20.4 to 27.9 N) with higher head deformation than those by HY or FA (45.6 to 58.9 N) after 15 days of storage. Overall appearance of both cultivars decreased during storage if infected in the field by the fungal pathogen Alternaria brassicicola, which causes black spot disease. However, by the end of storage 'Eastern Crown' had a higher quality rating (6.2) than 'Marathon' (5.4). Broccoli floret moisture content was not affected during storage; however, 'Marathon' had higher moisture content (94.7%) than 'Eastern Crown' (89.2%). Yellowing was expressed more for 'Marathon', which had higher chroma* value (21.4) and lower hue* angle (h*) (122.3) value than 'Eastern Crown' after 7 days at 1 °C, plus 8 days at 5 °C. Carotenoid content was similar for both cultivars at harvest (2.3 mg/100 g) then decreased 39% for 'Marathon' and 12% for 'Eastern Crown' by day 15. Total chlorophyll was similar for both cultivars throughout storage (22.6 mg/100 g). Ascorbic acid decreased for both cultivars during storage but was higher in 'Eastern Crown' (92.0 to 101.9 mg/100 g) compared to 'Marathon' (80.7 to 88.6 mg/100 g). Hydrocooling and forced-air plus overwrapping have potential to reduce cooling costs during commercial handling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most living organisms in both the plant and animal kingdoms have evolved processes to stay in tune with the alternation of day and night, and to optimize their physiology as a function of light supply. In mammals, a circadian clock relying on feedback loops between key transcription factors will thus control the temporally regulated pattern of expression of most genes. Modern ways of life have highly altered the synchronization of human activities with their circadian clocks. This review discusses the links between an altered circadian clock and the rise of pathologies. We then sum up the proofs of concept advocating for the integration of circadian clock considerations in chronotherapy for health care, medicine, and pharmacotherapy. Finally, we discuss the current challenges that circadian biology must face and the tools to address them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer is a disease of high mortality, and its prevalence has increased steadily in the last few years. However, during the last decade, the development of modern chemotherapy schemes, new radiotherapy techniques, targeted therapies and immunotherapy has brought new hope in the treatment of these diseases. Unfortunately, cancer therapies are also associated with frequent and, sometimes, severe adverse events. Ascorbate (ascorbic acid or vitamin C) is a potent water-soluble antioxidant that is produced in most mammals but is not synthesised endogenously in humans, which lack enzymes for its synthesis. Ascorbate has antioxidant effects that correspond closely to the dose administered. Interestingly, this natural antioxidant induces oxidative stress when given intravenously at a high dose, a paradoxical effect due to its interactions with iron. Importantly, this deleterious property of ascorbate can result in increased cell death. Although, historically, ascorbate has been reported to exhibit anti-tumour properties, this effect has been questioned due to the lack of available mechanistic detail. Recently, new evidence has emerged implicating ferroptosis in several types of oxidative stress-mediated cell death, such as those associated with ischemia–reperfusion. This effect could be positively modulated by the interaction of iron and high ascorbate dosing, particularly in cell systems having a high mitotic index. In addition, it has been reported that ascorbate may behave as an adjuvant of favourable anti-tumour effects in cancer therapies such as radiotherapy, radio-chemotherapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or even in monotherapy, as it facilitates tumour cell death through the generation of reactive oxygen species and ferroptosis. In this review, we provide evidence supporting the view that ascorbate should be revisited to develop novel, safe strategies in the treatment of cancer to achieve their application in human medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. utilis Tsen et Lee) is one of the most popular vegetables in China. However, the loss of the functional ingredients in postharvest flowering Chinese cabbage during storage is still serious, owing to the unclear causes of the metabolic shifts. Herein, benzoic acid, chlorine dioxide, and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) could maintain the quality of postharvest flowering Chinese cabbage, and 1-MCP showed the best effect. Furthermore, transcript-metabolite profiling of the treatments revealed a transcript-metabolite correlation network of the flavonoid biosynthesis pathways with a range of 3 to 3662 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and a range of 23 to 37 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs). Surprisingly, 1-MCP had the best effect on shelf life among the treatments, although chlorine dioxide could stimulate the expression of four critical differential genes (Bra007142, Bra008792, Bra009358, and Bra027457) involved in delaying flavonoid degradation (hesperetin, chalcone, rutin, baicalein). As a result, our findings will help to improve our understanding of the regulation of flavonoid production in relation to the quality of postharvest flowering Chinese cabbage during storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the idea that Vitamin C (Vit-C) could be utilized as a form of anti-cancer therapy has generated many contradictory arguments. Recent insights into the physiological characteristics of Vit-C, its pharmacokinetics, and results from preclinical reports, however, suggest that high-dose Vit-C could be effectively utilized in the management of various tumor types. Studies have shown that the pharmacological action of Vit-C can attack various processes that cancerous cells use for their growth and development. Here, we discuss the anti-cancer functions of Vit-C, but also the potential for the use of Vit-C as an epigenetic regulator and immunotherapy enhancer. We also provide a short overview of the current state of systems for scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially in the context of their influencing high-dose Vit-C toxicity for the inhibition of cancer growth. Even though the mechanisms of Vit-C action are promising, they need to be supported with robust randomized and controlled clinical trials. Moreover, upcoming studies should focus on how to define the most suitable cancer patient populations for high-dose Vit-C treatments and develop effective strategies that combine Vit-C with various concurrent cancer treatment regimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food plants have been recognized for their medicinal properties for millennia, a concept supported by epidemiological studies indicating long-term health benefits for people consuming greater amounts of fruits and vegetables. As our technology and instrumentation advance, researchers have the ability to identify promising phytochemicals, and examine their potential benefits, or detriments, to human health. While results from trials investigating single chemical supplementation have sometimes produced negative health results, studies investigating the synergistic action of phytochemicals—either within our diet or as an adjuvant to radiation or chemotherapy—appear promising. Utilizing phytochemicals as synergistic agents may lower the chemotherapeutic doses needed to incur physiological results, while also using chemicals with fewer toxic effects. This review investigates a variety of plant-produced chemicals humans typically ingest, their impacts on overall health patterns, molecular mechanisms associated with their health impacts, and the potential of their synergistic use for therapeutic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic liver diseases pose a substantial health burden worldwide, with approximately two million deaths each year. Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs)—valine, leucine, and isoleucine—are a group of essential amino acids that are essential for human health. Despite the necessity of a dietary intake of BCAA, emerging data indicate the undeniable correlation between elevated circulating BCAA levels and chronic liver diseases, including non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Moreover, circulatory BCAAs were positively associated with a higher cholesterol level, liver fat content, and insulin resistance (IR). However, BCAA supplementation was found to provide positive outcomes in cirrhosis and HCC patients. This review will attempt to address the contradictory claims found in the literature, with a special focus on BCAAs' distribution, key signaling pathways, and the modulation of gut microbiota. This should provide a better understanding of BCAAs' possible contribution to liver health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a complicated network, and several promising TME-targeted therapies, such as immunotherapy and targeted therapies, are now facing problems over low response rates and drug resistance. Vitamin C (VitC) has been extensively studied as a dietary nutrient and multi-targeted natural drug for fighting against tumor cells. The focus has been recently on its crucial functions in the TME. Here, we discuss the potential mechanisms of VitC in several specialized microenvironments, characterize the current status of its preclinical and clinical applications, and offer suggestions for future studies. This article is intended to provide basic researchers and clinicians with a detailed picture of VitC targeting the tumor microenvironment. Based on the enhanced knowledge on the tumor microenvironment (TME), a more comprehensive treatment landscape for targeting the TME has emerged. This microenvironment provides multiple therapeutic targets due to its diverse characteristics, leading to numerous TME-targeted strategies. With multifaced activities targeting tumors and the TME, vitamin C is renown as a promising candidate for combination therapy. In this review, we present new advances in how vitamin C reshapes the TME in the immune, hypoxic, metabolic, acidic, neurological, mechanical, and microbial dimensions. These findings will open new possibilities for multiple therapeutic avenues in the fight against cancer. We also review the available preclinical and clinical evidence of vitamin C combined with established therapies, highlighting vitamin C as an adjuvant that can be exploited for novel therapeutics. Finally, we discuss unresolved questions and directions that merit further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies have indicated a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and widespread chronic pain syndromes, such as fibromyalgia. During this study, the effect of supplementation with vitamin D in association with physical exercise in patients with fibromyalgia was evaluated, in terms of improvement of pain, functional capacity and quality of life, also evaluating the presence of any differences in age. A single-center, observational, comparative study was conducted in 80 fibromyalgia patients. They are randomized into 2 groups: Group A, consisting of patients ≤50 years; and group B, consisting of patients >50 years. Both received weekly supplementation with 50,000 IU cholecalciferol for 3 months in association with a rehabilitation protocol. Patients were assessed at enrollment (T0), 3 months (T1), and 6 months (T2) from the initial assessment with blood vitamin D dosage and administration of rating scales (NRS, FIQ, and SF-12). From the comparison between the two groups, we have seen that in young people, supplementation with high-dose vitamin D improves short-term musculoskeletal pain and long-term functional capacity. Conversely, musculoskeletal pain and long-term quality of life improve in the elderly. Supplementing with high doses of vitamin D in fibromyalgia patients improves the quality of life and pain in the elderly and also the functional capacity in the young. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: Pelvic fractures (PFs) are related to osteoporosis, and represent a serious individual and socioeconomic burden. (2) Methods: We examined age- and sex-standardised incidence rates (SIRs) of PF, along with rates of all-cause overall and one-year mortality among patients with PF. We compared the mortality rates between PF patients and a matched fracture-free cohort. Patients ≥50 years old in Austria hospitalised with PF in 2010–2018, along with their dates of death, were recorded. (3) Results: We identified 54,975 patients with PF, of whom 70.9% were women. Between 2010 and 2018 the SIR of PF increased in men by 10.0%—from 125.3 (95% Confidence Interval 118.9–132.0) to 137.8 (95% CI 131.8–144.0) per 100,000—and in women by 2.7%—from 218.7 (95% CI 212.0–225.6) to 224.7 (95% CI 218.3–231.3) per 100,000. The one-year post-PF mortality rate was higher in men than in women (13.0% and 11.1%, respectively; p < 0.001). Pelvic fracture patients aged ≥65 had an elevated mortality risk (Hazard Ratio 1.75, 95% CI 1.71–1.79, p < 0.001) compared to controls. (4) Conclusions: There is a clear increase in the incidence of PF in the elderly population, with a greater increase in men over time. Pelvic fracture itself contributes to increased mortality in individuals aged 65 and above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The atherosclerotic vascular disease is a cardiovascular continuum in which the main role is attributed to atherosclerosis, from its appearance to its associated complications. The increasing prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors, population ageing, and burden on both the economy and the healthcare system have led to the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in the field. The better understanding or discovery of new pathophysiological mechanisms and molecules modulating various signaling pathways involved in atherosclerosis have led to the development of potential new biomarkers, with key role in early, subclinical diagnosis. The evolution of technological processes in medicine has shifted the attention of researchers from the profiling of classical risk factors to the identification of new biomarkers such as midregional pro-adrenomedullin, midkine, stromelysin-2, pentraxin 3, inflammasomes, or endothelial cell-derived extracellular vesicles. These molecules are seen as future therapeutic targets associated with decreased morbidity and mortality through early diagnosis of atherosclerotic lesions and future research directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A set of guanine-rich aptamers able to preferentially recognize full-length huntingtin with an expanded polyglutamine tract has been recently identified, showing high efficacy in modulating the functions of the mutated protein in a variety of cell experiments. We here report a detailed biophysical characterization of the best aptamer in the series, named MS3, proved to adopt a stable, parallel G-quadruplex structure and show high nuclease resistance in serum. Confocal microscopy experiments on HeLa and SH-SY5Y cells, as models of non-neuronal and neuronal cells, respectively, showed a rapid, dose-dependent uptake of fluorescein-labelled MS3, demonstrating its effective internalization, even in the absence of transfecting agents, with no general cytotoxicity. Then, using a well-established Drosophila melanogaster model for Huntington's disease, which expresses the mutated form of human huntingtin, a significant improvement in the motor neuronal function in flies fed with MS3 was observed, proving the in vivo efficacy of this aptamer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabolic reprogramming represents a hallmark of tumorigenesis to sustain survival in harsh conditions, rapid growth and metastasis in order to resist to cancer therapies. These metabolic alterations involve glucose metabolism, known as the Warburg effect, increased glutaminolysis and enhanced amino acid and lipid metabolism, especially the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway known as the mevalonate pathway and these are upregulated in several cancer types, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In particular, it was demonstrated that the mevalonate pathway has a pivotal role in cellular transformation. Therefore, targeting this biochemical process with drugs such as statins represents a promising therapeutic strategy to be combined with other anticancer treatments. In the last decade, several studies have revealed that amino-bisphosphonates (BP), primarily used for bone fragility disorders, also exhibit potential anti-cancer activity in leukemic cells, as well as in patients with symptomatic multiple myeloma. Indeed, these compounds inhibit the farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase, a key enzyme in the mevalonate pathway, reducing isoprenoid formation of farnesyl pyrophosphate and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate. This, in turn, inhibits the prenylation of small Guanosine Triphosphate-binding proteins, such as Ras, Rho, Rac, Rab, which are essential for regulating cell survival membrane ruffling and trafficking, interfering with cancer key signaling events involved in clonal expansion and maturation block of progenitor cells in myeloid hematological malignancies. Thus, in this review, we discuss the recent advancements about bisphosphonates' effects, especially zoledronate, analyzing the biochemical mechanisms and anti-tumor effects on AML model systems. Future studies will be oriented to investigate the clinical relevance and significance of BP treatment in AML, representing an attractive therapeutic strategy that could be integrated into chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutritional habits impinge on the health of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, contributing to GI disorder progression. GI cancer is a widespread and aggressive tumor sensitive to nutritional changes. Indeed, specific nutritional expedients can be adopted to prevent GI cancer onset and to slow down disease activity. Moreover, the patient's nutritional status impacts prognosis, quality of life, and chemotherapy tolerance. These patients encounter the highest frequency of malnourishment risk, a condition that can progressively evolve into cachexia. Clinical studies dealing with this topic stressed the importance of nutritional counseling and put under the spotlight nutrient delivery, the type of nutrient supplementation, and timing for the start of nutritional management. A medical practitioner well-prepared on the topic of nutrition and cancer should operate in the clinical team dedicated to these oncological patients. This specific expertise needs to be implemented as soon as possible to adopt nutritional interventions and establish a proper patient-tailored dietary regimen. The nutritional gap closure should be prompt during anticancer treatment to stabilize weight loss, improve treatment tolerability, and ameliorate survival rate. Recently, novel nutritional approaches were investigated to target the bidirectional link between epigenetics and metabolism, whose alteration supports the onset, progression, and therapeutic response of GI cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumption of ready-to-eat (RTE) leafy vegetables has increased rapidly due to changes in consumer diet. RTE products are perceived as fresh, high-quality, and health-promoting. The monitoring of the RTE quality is crucial in relation to safety issues. This study aimed to evaluate the maintenance of RTE rocket salad freshness packed under modified atmospheres. A portable E-nose, the electrolyte leakage test (which measures the index of leaf damage—ILD), and NIR spectroscopy and Aquaphotomics were employed. Two trials were carried out, using the following gas mixtures: (A) atmospheric air (21% O2, 78% N2); (B) 30% O2, 70% N2; (C) 10% CO2, 5% O2, 85% N2. Samples were stored at 4 °C and analyzed at 0, 1, 4, 7, 11, and 13 days. ANOVA, PCA, PLS were applied for data processing. E-nose and ILD results identified the B atmosphere as the best for maintaining product freshness. NIR spectroscopy was able to group the samples according to the storage time. Aquaphotomics proved to be able to detect changes in the water structure during storage. These preliminary data showed a good agreement NIR/ILD suggesting the use of NIR for non-destructive monitoring of the damage to the plant membranes of RTE rocket salad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pregnancy is characterized by significant immunological changes and a cytokine profile, as well as vitamin deficiencies that can cause problems for the correct development of a fetus. Defensins are small antimicrobial peptides that are part of the innate immune system and are involved in several biological activities. Following that, this study aims to compare the levels of various cytokines and to investigate the role of defensins between pregnant women with confirmed COVID-19 infection and pregnant women without any defined risk factor. TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-2 and IL-10, β-defensins, have been evaluated by gene expression in our population. At the same time, by ELISA assay IL-6, IL-8, defensin alpha 1, defensin beta 1 and defensin beta 4 have been measured. The data obtained show that mothers affected by COVID-19 have an increase in pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8) compared to controls; this increase could generate a sort of "protection of the fetus" from virus attacks. Contemporarily, we have an increase in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and an increase in AMPs, which highlights how the mother's body is responding to the viral attack. These results allow us to hypothesize a mechanism of "trafficking" of antimicrobial peptides from the mother to the fetus that would help the fetus to protect itself from the infection in progress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most prevalent cancer (20%) in males and is accountable for a fifth (6.8%) cancer-related deaths in males globally. Smoking, obesity, race/ethnicity, diet, age, chemicals and radiation exposure, sexually transmitted diseases, etc. are among the most common risk factors for PCa. However, the basic change at the molecular level is the manifested confirmation of PCa. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the molecular signature for PCa in comparison to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Additionally, representation of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) are conducted with the help of some bioinformatics tools like DAVID, STRING, GEPIA, Cytoscape. The gene expression profile for the four data sets GSE55945, GSE104749, GSE46602, and GSE32571 was downloaded from NCBI, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). For the extracted DEGs, different types of analysis including functional and pathway enrichment analysis, protein–protein interaction (PPI) network construction, survival analysis and transcription factor (TF) prediction were conducted. We obtained 633 most significant upregulated genes and 1219 downregulated genes, and a sum total of 1852 DEGs were found from all four datasets after assessment. The key genes, including EGFR, MYC, VEGFA, and PTEN, are targeted by TF such as AR, Sp1, TP53, NF-KB1, STAT3, RELA. Moreover, miR-21-5p also found significantly associated with all the four key genes. Further, The Cancer Genome Atlas data (TCGA) independent database was used for validation of key genes EGFR, MYC, VEGFA, PTEN expression in prostate adenocarcinoma. All four key genes were found to be significantly correlated with overall survival in PCa. Therefore, the therapeutic target may be determined by the information of these key gene's findings for the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of PCa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waldenström Macroglobulinemia (WM) is an indolent lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, characterized by the production of excess immunoglobulin M monoclonal protein. WM belongs to the spectrum of IgM gammopathies, ranging from asymptomatic IgM monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (IgM-MGUS), through IgM-related disorders and asymptomatic WM to symptomatic WM. In recent years, its complex genomic and transcriptomic landscape has been extensively explored, hereby elucidating the biological mechanisms underlying disease onset, progression and therapy response. An increasing number of mutations, cytogenetic abnormalities, and molecular signatures have been described that have diagnostic, phenotype defining or prognostic implications. Moreover, cell-free nucleic acid biomarkers are increasingly being investigated, benefiting the patient in a minimally invasive way. This review aims to provide an extensive overview of molecular biomarkers in WM and IgM-MGUS, considering current shortcomings, as well as potential future applications in a precision medicine approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The database featured in the present work aims to support researchers and decisionmakers in planning future investigations and in evaluating current knowledge on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons when it comes to fixing the limits to PAH levels in fishery products. The aim of this work was to collect and harmonize the results of several studies achieved over the years, in order to obtain a database of georeferenced observations on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Western and Central Mediterranean seafood. For each observation, some information on the taxonomy and the ecology of the sampled species are reported, as well as details on the investigated hydrocarbon, and spatial and temporal information on sampling. Moreover, two health risk indexes were calculated for each record and included in the database. Through several statistical methods, we conducted a meta-analysis of the data on some of the species in this database, identifying trends that could be related to the biology of the investigated organisms, as well as to the physico-chemical properties of each hydrocarbon and to the oceanographic characteristic of this part of the Mediterranean. The analysis of the data showed that, at a consumption rate like the one typical of the Italian population, seafood caught from the area considered in the present work seems to pose a minimal risk to health. However, we also found evidence of an increasing trend of PAH concentrations in Mediterranean mussels, pointing to the need for constant monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Parkinson's disease may be caused by a single pathogenic variant (monogenic) in 5–10% of cases, but investigation of these disorders provides valuable pathophysiological insights. In this review, we discuss each genetic form with a focus on genotype, phenotype, pathophysiology, and the geographic and ethnic distribution. Well-established Parkinson's disease genes include autosomal dominant forms (SNCA, LRRK2, and VPS35) and autosomal recessive forms (PRKN, PINK1 and DJ1). Furthermore, mutations in the GBA gene are a key risk factor for Parkinson's disease, and there have been major developments for X-linked dystonia parkinsonism. Moreover, atypical or complex parkinsonism may be due to mutations in genes such as ATP13A2, DCTN1, DNAJC6, FBXO7, PLA2G6, and SYNJ1. Furthermore, numerous genes have recently been implicated in Parkinson's disease, such as CHCHD2, LRP10, TMEM230, UQCRC1, and VPS13C. Additionally, we discuss the role of heterozygous mutations in autosomal recessive genes, the effect of having mutations in two Parkinson's disease genes, the outcome of deep brain stimulation, and the role of genetic testing. We highlight that monogenic Parkinson's disease is influenced by ethnicity and geographical differences, reinforcing the need for global efforts to pool large numbers of patients and identify novel candidate genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunotherapy has revolutionized the established therapeutics against tumors. As the major immunotherapy approach, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) achieved remarkable success in the treatment of malignancies. However, the clinical gains are far from universal and durable, because of the primary and secondary resistance of tumors to the therapy, or side effects induced by ICIs. There is an urgent need to find safe combinatorial strategies that enhance the response of ICIs for tumor treatment. Diets have an excellent safety profile and have been shown to play pleiotropic roles in tumor prevention, growth, invasion, and metastasis. Accumulating evidence suggests that dietary regimens bolster not only the tolerability but also the efficacy of tumor immunotherapy. In this review, we discussed the mechanisms by which tumor cells evade immune surveillance, focusing on describing the intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms of resistance to ICIs. We also summarized the impacts of different diets and/or nutrients on the response to ICIs therapy. Combinatory treatments of ICIs therapy with optimized diet regimens own great potential to enhance the efficacy and durable response of ICIs against tumors, which should be routinely considered in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Related to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic leading to COVID-19 illness, patients with cancer comorbidity are known to have a higher risk of developing severe viral-related events, including death. To date, there are few treatments with proven efficacy for COVID-19. Vitamin C administered intravenously (IVC) has been extensively investigated in cancer treatment with a known safety profile and has been proposed to play a role in managing COVID-19. IVC was used to treat COVID-19 patients in hospitals in China, USA, and Europe with reported benefits. We report here unexpected beneficial results from the use of IVC in two severely ill oncology patients with documented COVID-19 lung disease. Case Report: two oncology patients were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Prior to receiving IVC, lung infiltrates and systemic inflammation in both patients were progressing despite multiple anti-viral, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory treatments with intensive supportive care. Both patients subsequently received 12 g of IVC delivered intravenously over 30 min, given 2 times daily for 7 days. Serial SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid tests showed that the viral load was negative only after the 7-day IVC treatment. In both patients after receiving IVC infusions, imaging by chest CT or X-ray showed improving lung infiltrates. There were reductions in systematic inflammation by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) testing. No adverse events were observed related to IVC treatment. Conclusion: the use of high-dose IVC demonstrated unexpected clinical benefits in treating COVID-19 in two cancer patients presenting with complicated severe comorbidities where an unfavorable prognosis was anticipated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing interest of society in healthy eating, the interest in fresh, ready-to-eat, functional food, such as microscale vegetables (sprouted seeds and microgreens), has been on the rise in recent years globally. This review briefly describes the crops commonly used for microscale vegetable production, highlights Brassica vegetables because of their health-promoting secondary metabolites (polyphenols, glucosinolates), and looks at consumer acceptance of sprouts and microgreens. Apart from the main crops used for microscale vegetable production, landraces, wild food plants, and crops' wild relatives often have high phytonutrient density and exciting flavors and tastes, thus providing the scope to widen the range of crops and species used for this purpose. Moreover, the nutritional value and content of phytochemicals often vary with plant growth and development within the same crop. Sprouted seeds and microgreens are often more nutrient-dense than ungerminated seeds or mature vegetables. This review also describes the environmental and priming factors that may impact the nutritional value and content of phytochemicals of microscale vegetables. These factors include the growth environment, growing substrates, imposed environmental stresses, seed priming and biostimulants, biofortification, and the effect of light in controlled environments. This review also touches on microgreen market trends. Due to their short growth cycle, nutrient-dense sprouts and microgreens can be produced with minimal input; without pesticides, they can even be home-grown and harvested as needed, hence having low environmental impacts and a broad acceptance among health-conscious consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frozen elephant trunk technique (FET) requires the use of a pre-assembled hybrid prosthesis consisting of a standard Dacron vascular portion to replace the aortic arch and a stent graft component, which is placed into the proximal descending thoracic aorta (DTA) anterogradely in the proximal descending thoracic aorta. In Europe, two hybrid prostheses are available: the E-evita Open Plus hybrid stent graft system provided by JOTEC (Hechingen, Germany) and the ThoraflexTM Hybrid (Vascutek, Inchinnan Scotland). Recommendations for use are extensive pathologies of the arch in case of acute and chronic aortic dissection, degenerative aneurysm and intramural hematoma. The FET approach allows the replacement of the whole arch in one stage with the option of direct treatment of the proximal descending thoracic aorta based on the stent component, creating a safe landing zone for further endovascular treatment more distally. The remarkable feature of this technique is the possibility to perform more proximally (from zone 3 to zone 0) the distal anastomosis in to the arch. This allows for an easier distal anastomosis, reduced hypothermic circulatory arrest time and decreased risk of paraplegia (<5%). Early results are promising and according to the most recent series the rate of developing post-operative renal insufficiency ranges from 3 to 10%, the risk of stroke from 3% to 8% and mortality from 8–15%. The aim of the article will be to provide some knowledge about the use and application of FET procedures in different aortic situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence indicates that extracellular vesicles (EVs) released from both tumor cells and the cells of the bone marrow microenvironment contribute to the pathobiology of multiple myeloma (MM). Recent studies on the mechanisms by which EVs exert their biological activity have indicated that the non-coding RNA(ncRNA) cargo is key in mediating their effect on MM development and progression. In this review, we will first discuss the role of EV-associated ncRNAs in different aspects of MM pathobiology, including proliferation, angiogenesis, bone disease development, and drug resistance. Finally, since ncRNAs carried by MM vesicles have also emerged as a promising tool for early diagnosis and therapy response prediction, we will report evidence of their potential use as clinical biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bone remodeling is uncoupled in the multiple myeloma (MM) bone marrow niche, resulting in enhanced osteoclastogenesis responsible of MM-related bone disease (MMBD). Several studies have disclosed the mechanisms underlying increased osteoclast formation and activity triggered by the various cellular components of the MM bone marrow microenvironment, leading to the identification of novel targets for therapeutic intervention. In this regard, recent attention has been given to non-coding RNA (ncRNA) molecules, that finely tune gene expression programs involved in bone homeostasis both in physiological and pathological settings. In this review, we will analyze major signaling pathways involved in MMBD pathophysiology, and report emerging evidence of their regulation by different classes of ncRNAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological role and therapeutic potential of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are still open questions. Herein, we investigated the significance of the lncRNA NEAT1 in CLL. We examined NEAT1 expression in 310 newly diagnosed Binet A patients, in normal CD19+ B-cells, and other types of B-cell malignancies. Although global NEAT1 expression level was not statistically different in CLL cells compared to normal B cells, the median ratio of NEAT1_2 long isoform and global NEAT1 expression in CLL samples was significantly higher than in other groups. NEAT1_2 was more expressed in patients carrying mutated IGHV genes. Concerning cytogenetic aberrations, NEAT1_2 expression in CLL with trisomy 12 was lower with respect to patients without alterations. Although global NEAT1 expression appeared not to be associated with clinical outcome, patients with the lowest NEAT1_2 expression displayed the shortest time to first treatment; however, a multivariate regression analysis showed that the NEAT1_2 risk model was not independent from other known prognostic factors, particularly the IGHV mutational status. Overall, our data prompt future studies to investigate whether the increased amount of the long NEAT1_2 isoform detected in CLL cells may have a specific role in the pathology of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell dyscrasia characterized by bone marrow infiltration of clonal plasma cells. The recent literature has clearly demonstrated clonal heterogeneity in terms of both the genomic and transcriptomic signature of the tumor. Of note, novel studies have also highlighted the importance of the functional cross-talk between the tumor clone and the surrounding bone marrow milieu, as a relevant player of MM pathogenesis. These findings have certainly enhanced our understanding of the underlying mechanisms supporting MM pathogenesis and disease progression. Within the specific field of small non-coding RNA-research, recent studies have provided evidence for considering microRNAs as a crucial regulator of MM biology and, in this context, circulating microRNAs have been shown to potentially contribute to prognostic stratification of MM patients. The present review will summarize the most recent studies within the specific topic of microRNAs and circulating microRNAs in MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematooncological disease of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. While new treatment brought unprecedented increase of survival of patients, MM pathogenesis is yet to be clarified. Increasing evidence of expression of long non-coding RNA molecules (lncRNA) linked to development and progression of many tumors suggested their important role in tumorigenesis. To date, over 15,000 lncRNA molecules characterized by diversity of function and specificity of cell distribution were identified in the human genome. Due to their involvement in proliferation, apoptosis, metabolism, and differentiation, they have a key role in the biological processes and pathogenesis of many diseases, including MM. This review summarizes current knowledge of non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), especially lncRNAs, and their role in MM pathogenesis. Undeniable involvement of lncRNAs in MM development suggests their potential as biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive research has been undertaken during the last decade to identify the implication of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM). The expression profiling of miRNAs in MM has provided relevant information, demonstrating different patterns of miRNA expression depending on the genetic abnormalities of MM and a key role of some miRNAs regulating critical genes associated with MM pathogenesis. However, the underlying causes of abnormal expression of miRNAs in myeloma cells remain mainly elusive. The final expression of the mature miRNAs is subject to multiple regulation mechanisms, such as copy number alterations, CpG methylation or transcription factors, together with impairment in miRNA biogenesis and differences in availability of the mRNA target sequence. In this review, we summarize the available knowledge about the factors involved in the regulation of miRNA expression and functionality in MM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a malignancy of terminally differentiated plasma cells and is the second most common hematological cancer. MM frequently occurs in the elderly population with the median age as the middle sixties. Over the last 10 years, the prognosis of MM has been dramatically improved by new therapeutic drugs; however, MM is still incurable. The pathogenesis of MM is still unclear, thus greater understanding of the molecular mechanisms of MM malignancy is desirable. Recently, microRNAs (miRNAs) were shown to modulate the expression of genes critical for MM pathogenesis. In addition, miRNAs are secreted via extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are released from various cell types including MM cells, and these miRNAs are involved in multiple types of cell-cell interactions, which lead to the malignancy of MM. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the role of miRNA secretion via EVs and of EVs themselves in MM development. We also discuss the potential clinical applications of EVs as promising biomarkers and new therapeutic targets for improving the outcome of MM, resulting in a brighter future for aging societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sarcopenia impairs survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to clarify the factors that contribute to decreased skeletal muscle volume in patients with HCC. The third lumbar vertebra skeletal muscle index (L3 SMI) in 351 consecutive patients with HCC was calculated to identify sarcopenia. Sarcopenia was defined as an L3 SMI value ≤ 29.0 cm²/m² for women and ≤ 36.0 cm²/m² for men. The factors affecting L3 SMI were analyzed by multiple linear regression analysis and tree-based models. Of the 351 HCC patients, 33 were diagnosed as having sarcopenia and showed poor prognosis compared with non-sarcopenia patients (p = 0.007). However, this significant difference disappeared after the adjustments for age, sex, Child-Pugh score, maximum tumor size, tumor number, and the degree of portal vein invasion by propensity score matching analysis. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age (p = 0.015) and sex (p < 0.0001) were significantly correlated with a decrease in L3 SMI. Tree-based models revealed that sex (female) is the most significant factor that affects L3 SMI. In male patients, L3 SMI was decreased by aging, increased Child-Pugh score (≥56 years), and enlarged tumor size (<56 years). Maintaining liver functional reserve and early diagnosis and therapy for HCC are vital to prevent skeletal muscle depletion and improve the prognosis of patients with HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive disease caused by the malignant transformation of immature progenitors primed towards T-cell development. Clinically, T-ALL patients present with diffuse infiltration of the bone marrow by immature T-cell blasts high blood cell counts, mediastinal involvement, and diffusion to the central nervous system. In the past decade, the genomic landscape of T-ALL has been the target of intense research. The identification of specific genomic alterations has contributed to identify strong oncogenic drivers and signaling pathways regulating leukemia growth. Notwithstanding, T-ALL patients are still treated with high-dose multiagent chemotherapy, potentially exposing these patients to considerable acute and long-term side effects. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of the signaling pathways relevant for the pathogenesis of T-ALL and the opportunities offered for targeted therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how a social threat posed by a deviant behavior affects second-hand forgiveness over time toward ingroup and outgroup transgressors. In Study 1, using real news reports, we investigated intergroup rivalries between soccer fans in order to understand the role of group membership in predicting the intention to forgive transgressors. Results suggested that transgressors were less likely to be forgiven by ingroup members rather than outgroup members, thus showing evidence of the black sheep effect. In Study 2 (using a different sample), we analyzed the same intergroup rivalries one year after the transgression in order to explore changes in intention to forgive over time. Results showed that, after one year, ingroup members were more likely to forgive ingroup than outgroup transgressors, but only when the threat to the group stereotype was not salient. The implications of the results for the subjective group dynamics theory and for the black sheep effect are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

RNA interference (RNAi), including microRNAs, is an important player in the mediation of differentiation and migration of stem cells via target genes. It is used as a potential strategy for gene therapy for central nervous system (CNS) diseases. Stem cells are considered vectors of RNAi due to their capacity to deliver RNAi to other cells. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in studies of RNAi pathways in controlling neuronal differentiation and migration of stem cells. We also highlight the utilization of a combination of RNAi and stem cells in treatment of CNS diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although sensor technologies have been developing quite similarly all over the world, the investigation of their applications has been more affected by the specific industrial and economic characteristics of each country. This paper aims to investigate the development of applications based on sensor devices in the sectors of energy and the environment, in Italy, throughout the last forty years (1976-2015), examining the most relevant papers published by Italian R & D groups working in this field. Italy depends on foreign imports for more than 80% of its primary energy needs, and this has directed the research effort on the development of sensor applications both to improve load shaping and consumers' awareness and to develop specific equipment to maximize renewable energy production. Similarly, for the environment sector, there are increasing efforts to develop solutions to support a more and more capillary control of the environment itself using a cooperative approach. In both the sectors it seems that the solutions proposed can help to relieve the structural problems that Italy suffers and that the scientific and technical results obtained so far also have significant international relevance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ovarian cancer is the eighth most common cancer in women worldwide, and epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) represents 90% of cases. Nerve growth factor (NGF) and its high affinity receptor tyrosine kinase A receptor (TRKA) have been associated with the development of several types of cancer, including EOC; both NGF and TRKA levels are elevated in this pathology. EOC presents high angiogenesis and several molecules have been reported to induce this process. NGF increases angiogenesis through its TRKA receptor on endothelial cells, and by indirectly inducing vascular endothelial growth factor expression. Other molecules controlled by NGF include ciclooxigenase-2, disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 17 (ADAM17) and calreticulin (CRT), proteins involved in crucial processes needed for EOC progression. These molecules could be modified through microRNA regulation, which could be regulated by NGF. MicroRNAs are the widest family of non-coding RNAs; they bind to 30-UTR of mRNAs to inhibit their translation, to deadenilate or to degraded them. In EOC, a deregulation in microRNA expression has been described, including alterations of miR-200 family, cluster-17-92, and miR-23b, among others. Since the NGF-microRNA relationship in pathologies has not been studied, this review proposes that some microRNAs could be associated with NGF/TRKA activation, modifying protein levels needed for EOC progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of lifestyle patterns, as a combination of diet, physical activity and smoking, on Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) among Qatari women of childbearing age (n = 418), a population group particularly vulnerable to the health sequela of this syndrome. Using data from the National WHO STEPwise survey conducted in Qatar in 2012, Principal Component Factor Analysis was performed to derive lifestyle patterns with survey variables related to the frequency of consumption of 13 foods/food groups, physical activity levels, and smoking status. MetS was diagnosed using ATPIII criteria. Three lifestyle patterns were identified: 'High Risk' pattern, characterized by intakes of fast foods, sweets and sugar sweetened beverages, in addition to lower levels of physical activity and higher smoking prevalence; 'Prudent' pattern, driven mainly by higher intakes of fruits, vegetables, fish, and whole grains; and 'Traditional' pattern which included beans, meat, dairy products, and a low prevalence of smoking. Among these three lifestyle patterns, only the 'High Risk' was associated with MetS, whereby subjects belonging to the third tertile of this pattern's score had 2.5 times the odds of MetS compared to those belonging to the first tertile. The findings of this study demonstrated the synergy among high risk behaviors among Qatari women in increasing the odds of MetS; the latter being a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]