351 results on '"Maschio, A"'
Search Results
2. Decrease in Mycophenolate Mofetil Plasma Concentration in the Presence of Antibiotics: A Case Report in a Cystic Fibrosis Patient with Lung Transplant
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Giuliano Ponis, Giuliana Decorti, Egidio Barbi, Gabriele Stocco, and Massimo Maschio
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amikacin ,antibiotic therapy ,drug interactions ,immunosuppression ,therapeutic drug monitoring ,meropenem ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 ,Chemistry ,QD1-999 - Abstract
Immunosuppression management in transplant recipients is a critical component of pharmacotherapy. This becomes particularly crucial when patients are exposed to multiple medications that may lead to pharmacological interactions, potentially compromising the effectiveness of immunosuppression. We present the case of a 46-year-old patient diagnosed with cystic fibrosis in childhood at our hospital, who underwent bilateral lung transplantation and is undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. The patient was hospitalized due to an acute pulmonary exacerbation. During the hospitalization, the patient was administered various classes of antibiotics while continuing the standard antirejection regimen of everolimus and mycophenolate. Plasma concentrations of immunosuppressants, measured after antibiotic therapy, revealed significantly lower levels than the therapeutic thresholds, providing the basis for formulating the hypothesis of a drug–drug interaction phenomenon. This hypothesis is supported by the rationale of antibiotic-induced disruption of the intestinal flora, which directly affects the kinetics of mycophenolate. These levels increased after discontinuation of the antimicrobials. Patients with CF undergoing lung transplantation, especially prone to pulmonary infections due to their medical condition, considering the enterohepatic circulation of mycophenolate mediated by intestinal bacteria, necessitate routine monitoring of mycophenolate concentrations during and immediately following the cessation of antibiotic therapies, that could potentially result in insufficient immunosuppression.
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- 2024
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3. Computational Characterization of β-Li3PS4 Solid Electrolyte: From Bulk and Surfaces to Nanocrystals
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Naiara Leticia Marana, Mauro Francesco Sgroi, Lorenzo Maschio, Anna Maria Ferrari, Maddalena D’Amore, and Silvia Casassa
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solid-state electrolyte ,lithium batteries ,DFT ,Li3PS4 ,Wulff nanocrystals ,Chemistry ,QD1-999 - Abstract
The all-solid-state lithium-ion battery is a new class of batteries being developed following today’s demand for renewable energy storage, especially for electric cars. The key component of such batteries is the solid-state electrolyte, a technology that promises increased safety and energy density with respect to the traditional liquid electrolytes. In this view, β-Li3PS4 is emerging as a good solid-state electrolyte candidate due to its stability and ionic conductivity. Despite the number of recent studies on this material, there is still much to understand about its atomic structure, and in particular its surface, a topic that becomes of key relevance for ionic diffusion and chemical stability in grain borders and contact with the other device components. In this study, we performed a density functional study of the structural and electronic properties of β-Li3PS4 surfaces. Starting from the bulk, we first verified that the thermodynamically stable structure featured slight distortion to the structure. Then, the surfaces were cut along different crystallographic planes and compared with each other. The (100) surface is confirmed as the most stable at T = 298 K, closely followed by (011), (010), and (210). Finally, from the computed surface energies, the Wulff nanocrystals were obtained and it was verified that the growth along the (100) and (011) directions reasonably reproduces the shape of the experimentally observed nanocrystal. With this study, we demonstrate that there are other surfaces besides (100) that are stable and can form interfaces with other components of the battery as well as facilitate the Li-migration according to their porous structures.
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- 2022
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4. Salt Bridges Regulate in Silico Dimers Formation for β2-Microglobulin Amyloidogenic Variants
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Stefano Corni, Maria Celeste Maschio, Giorgia Brancolini, and Via Campi Reggio Emilia
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Biochemistry ,Chemistry ,Beta-2 microglobulin ,In silico ,Amyloidosis ,medicine ,Protein aggregation ,medicine.disease - Abstract
β2-microglobulin is a paradigmatic amyloidogenic protein responsible fordialysis-related amyloidosis, a disease associated to long-term hemodialyzedpatients and characterized by accumulation of amyloid deposits in the osteoar-ticular tissues. In the early stages of amyloid fibril formation, β2-microglobulinassociates into dimers and higher oligomers, but clarifications are still neededfor the triggering conditions, mechanisms and specificity of dimer forma-tion. To characterize the dimeric association process, the protein-proteininteractions between three different species are investigated: namely, thenative protein and the two amyloidogenic variants ΔN6 and D76N. Thedimerization process is rationalized relying on state of the art computationalmethods. A comparative mechanism for how different mutations in the threevariants can affect protein dimerization and thus fibril formation is proposed. The number of salt bridges involved at the protein-protein interface correlateswith the degree of amyloidogenicity of each individual species. The findingscan offer possible strategies in controlling the dimerization mechanism basedon different β2-microglobulin protein mutations, which have significant rolesin the fibrillogenical process.
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- 2023
5. Conversion of Co-Mn-Al hydrotalcites in highly active spinel-type catalysts for peroxide decomposition
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Andre N. Miranda, Willian G. Nunes, Leandro José Maschio, Sayuri Okamoto, Ricardo Vieira, Gustavo Doubek, and Luís Gustavo Ferroni Pereira
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Battery (electricity) ,Materials science ,Hydrotalcite ,Spinel ,Oxide ,General Chemistry ,Thermal treatment ,engineering.material ,Decomposition ,Peroxide ,Catalysis ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,Chemical engineering ,engineering - Abstract
The fast decomposition of peroxides (M2O2, where M = H+, Li+) at room temperature has gained increased attention given its relevance, from propulsive systems to metal-O2 conversion batteries. This study describes, by a rational design of experiment, the influence of selected parameters such as: pH, initial concentration of K2CO3, precipitate aging, precipitate washing, and thermal treatment for the hydrotalcite co-precipitation, characterizing it for each synthesis variable. The results show that hydrotalcites can efficiently be converted in Co-Mn-Al spinels and as a result, a new highly active Co2Mn0.5Al0.5O4 spinel oxide was synthesized after thermal treatment. Its activity and mechanical resistance were tested in a micro-thruster reactor where it showed total decomposition (> 98%) of H2O2 and in a Li-O2 battery, with increased cyclability, been able to reduce the charging potential in ~200 mV. These encouraging results enhance the importance not only of this class of material, but also, the importance of robust synthesis methodologies for reproducible results.
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- 2022
6. Adipose tissue of female Wistar rats respond to Ilex paraguariensis treatment after ovariectomy surgery
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Maiza Cristina Von Dentz, Débora Santos Rocha, Matheus Vieira Lima, Simony Martiny, Jéssica Maschio, Valquiria Linck Bassani, Elaine Sarapio, Jorge Felipe Argenta Model, Éverton Lopes Vogt, Samir Kahl de Souza, Luiz Carlos Rios Kucharski, Renata Ohlweiler, and Mairique Waszczuk
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medicine.medical_specialty ,Animal model of metabolism ,Fat distribution syndrome ,Tecido adiposo ,Ovariectomy ,Disorder of lipid metabolism ,0211 other engineering and technologies ,Adipose tissue ,02 engineering and technology ,01 natural sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Síndrome metabólica ,Ilex paraguariensis ,Internal medicine ,021105 building & construction ,medicine ,Ovariectomia ,Lipolysis ,Caracteres sexuais ,Gender difference in metabolism ,Triglyceride ,business.industry ,Lipid metabolism ,Metabolism ,0104 chemical sciences ,010404 medicinal & biomolecular chemistry ,Endocrinology ,Epinephrine ,Carbohydrate metabolism disorder ,Complementary and alternative medicine ,chemistry ,Lipogenesis ,Medicine ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,business ,Weight gain ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Background and aim Metabolic disturbances are known for their increasing epidemiological importance. Ilex paraguariensis presents a potential option for mitigating lipid metabolism imbalance. However, most of the literature to date has not considered sex bias. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Ilex paraguariensis on the metabolism of different adipose tissue depots in males and females. Experimental procedure After ovariectomy, female Wistar rats received daily treatment with the extract (1 g/kg) for forty-five days. Biochemical serum parameters and tissue metabolism were evaluated. Oxidation, lipogenesis and lipolysis were evaluated in brown, white visceral, retroperitoneal and gonadal adipose tissues. Results and conclusion The results showed that treatment with the extract led to a reduced weight gain in ovariectomised females in comparison to control. The triglyceride concentration was decreased in males. Glucose oxidation and lipid synthesis in visceral and retroperitoneal adipose tissues were restored in ovariectomised females after treatment. The response to epinephrine decreased in visceral adipose tissue of control males; however, lipolysis in females did not respond to ovariectomy or treatment. These findings highlight the enormous potential effects of I. paraguariensis on lipid metabolism, modulating lipogenic pathways in females and lipolytic pathways in males. Furthermore, the sex approach applied in this study contributes to more effective screening of the effects of I. paraguariensis bioactive substances.
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- 2021
7. Non-invasive imaging of tau-targeted probe uptake by whole brain multi-spectral optoacoustic tomography
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Roland Riek, Artur Luzgin, Uwe Konietzko, Juan Gerez, Daniel Razansky, Zhenyue Chen, Maiko Ono, Bin Ji, Xosé Luís Deán-Ben, Patrick Vagenknecht, Roger M. Nitsch, Cinzia A Maschio, Daniela Noain, Jens Sobek, Makoto Higuchi, Jan Klohs, Ruiqing Ni, University of Zurich, Dean-Ben, Xose Luis, and Ni, Ruiqing
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Pathology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Animal model ,Fluorescence imaging ,Frontotemporal dementia ,Optoacoustic imaging ,Tau ,Mice, Transgenic ,tau Proteins ,610 Medicine & health ,Progressive supranuclear palsy ,170 Ethics ,Mice ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Neuroimaging ,Alzheimer Disease ,In vivo ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,Corticobasal degeneration ,2741 Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging ,Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and imaging ,10237 Institute of Biomedical Engineering ,Brain ,General Medicine ,Human brain ,11359 Institute for Regenerative Medicine (IREM) ,medicine.disease ,Disease Models, Animal ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Tauopathies ,chemistry ,Positron-Emission Tomography ,Thioflavin ,Tauopathy ,Alzheimer's disease - Abstract
Purpose Abnormal tau accumulation within the brain plays an important role in tauopathies such as Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementia. High-resolution imaging of tau deposits at the whole-brain scale in animal disease models is highly desired. Methods We approached this challenge by non-invasively imaging the brains of P301L mice of 4-repeat tau with concurrent volumetric multi-spectral optoacoustic tomography (vMSOT) at ~ 115 μm spatial resolution using the tau-targeted pyridinyl-butadienyl-benzothiazole derivative PBB5 (i.v.). In vitro probe characterization, concurrent vMSOT and epi-fluorescence imaging of in vivo PBB5 targeting (i.v.) was performed in P301L and wild-type mice, followed by ex vivo validation using AT-8 antibody for phosphorylated tau. Results PBB5 showed specific binding to recombinant K18 tau fibrils by fluorescence assay, to post-mortem Alzheimer’s disease brain tissue homogenate by competitive binding against [11C]PBB3 and to tau deposits (AT-8 positive) in post-mortem corticobasal degeneration and progressive supranuclear palsy brains. Dose-dependent optoacoustic and fluorescence signal intensities were observed in the mouse brains following i.v. administration of different concentrations of PBB5. In vivo vMSOT brain imaging of P301L mice showed higher retention of PBB5 in the tau-laden cortex and hippocampus compared to wild-type mice, as confirmed by ex vivo vMSOT, epi-fluorescence, multiphoton microscopy, and immunofluorescence staining. Conclusions We demonstrated non-invasive whole-brain imaging of tau in P301L mice with vMSOT system using PBB5 at a previously unachieved ~ 115 μm spatial resolution. This platform provides a new tool to study tau spreading and clearance in a tauopathy mouse model, foreseeable in monitoring tau targeting putative therapeutics., European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, 49 (7), ISSN:1619-7070, ISSN:1619-7089
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- 2022
8. Laboratory scale method for preparation of mixture modeled composite fuels for hybrid propulsion
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Leandro José Maschio, Leonardo Henrique Gouvêa, Luís Gustavo Ferroni Pereira, Emmanuel Péres de Araújo, and Ricardo Vieira
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Materials science ,010304 chemical physics ,Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous) ,business.industry ,Composite number ,Context (language use) ,Laboratory scale ,Polyethylene ,01 natural sciences ,010406 physical chemistry ,0104 chemical sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,0103 physical sciences ,Mixture modelling ,Process engineering ,business ,Hybrid propulsion - Abstract
Fuel formulation is one of the chief strategies investigated in hybrid propulsion studies. In this context, polyethylenes-paraffins compositions have been suggested as a trade-off solution to attai...
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- 2021
9. ASSESSING THE PERFORMANCE OF A GREEN LIQUID FUEL HYPERGOLIC WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE IN A 50 N BIPROPELLANT THRUSTER
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Ricardo Vieira, Luís Gustavo Ferroni Pereira, Emmanuel Péres de Araújo, Leandro José Maschio, and Leonardo Henrique Gouvêa
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chemistry.chemical_compound ,Ethanol ,law ,Chemistry ,Inorganic chemistry ,Hypergolic propellant ,General Materials Science ,Hydrogen peroxide ,law.invention ,Liquid fuel - Published
- 2021
10. CoMn‐Spinel Oxides as Supported Catalyst for Rocket‐Grade Hydrogen Peroxide Decomposition
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Luís Gustavo Ferroni Pereira, Ricardo Vieira, Leonardo Henrique Gouvêa, Leandro José Maschio, and Emmanuel Péres de Araújo
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Materials science ,business.product_category ,General Chemical Engineering ,Spinel ,General Chemistry ,engineering.material ,Decomposition ,Monopropellant ,Catalysis ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,Rocket ,Chemical engineering ,engineering ,Hydrogen peroxide ,business - Published
- 2020
11. Development of Piezoelectric Harvesters with Integrated Trimming Devices
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Alberto Doria, Cristian Medè, Giulio Fanti, Daniele Desideri, Alvise Maschio, and Federico Moro
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harvester ,piezoelectric ,dynamic vibration absorber ,trimming ,Technology ,Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General) ,TA1-2040 ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 ,Physics ,QC1-999 ,Chemistry ,QD1-999 - Abstract
Piezoelectric cantilever harvesters have a large power output at their natural frequency, but in some applications the frequency of ambient vibrations is different from the harvester’s frequency and/or ambient vibrations are periodic with some harmonic components. To cope with these operating conditions harvesters with integrated trimming devices (ITDs) are proposed. Some prototypes are developed with the aid of an analytical model and tested with an impulsive method. Results show that a small trimming device can lower the main resonance frequency of a piezoelectric harvester of the same extent as a larger tip mass and, moreover, it generates at high frequency a second resonance peak. A multi-physics numerical finite element (FE) model is developed for predicting the generated power and for performing a stress-strain analysis of harvesters with ITDs. The numerical model is validated on the basis of the experimental results. Several configurations of ITDs are conceived and studied. Numerical results show that the harvesters with ITDs are able to generate relevant power at two frequencies, owing to the particular shape of the modes of vibration. The stress in the harvesters with ITDs is smaller than the stress in the harvester with a tip mass trimmed to the same frequency.
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- 2018
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12. Aberrant Patterns of Sensory-Evoked Activity in the Olfactory Bulb of LRRK2 Knockout Mice
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Claudia Lodovichi, Martina Canova, Marco Dal Maschio, Andrea Maset, Marco Albanesi, and Antonio di Soccio
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Male ,Sensory processing ,QH301-705.5 ,LRRK2 ,Olfactory alterations ,Parkinson’s disease ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Sensation ,Action Potentials ,Sensory system ,Biology ,Leucine-Rich Repeat Serine-Threonine Protein Kinase-2 ,Article ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,medicine ,Animals ,Biology (General) ,Neurotransmitter ,Evoked Potentials ,LRRK2 Gene ,Mice, Knockout ,olfactory alterations ,General Medicine ,Null allele ,Olfactory Bulb ,Olfactory bulb ,nervous system diseases ,Mice, Inbred C57BL ,chemistry ,Knockout mouse ,Mutation ,Odorants ,Female ,Neuroscience - Abstract
The LRRK2 gene is the major genetic determinant of familiar Parkinson’s disease (PD). Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is a multidomain protein involved in several intracellular signaling pathways. A wealth of evidence indicates that LRRK2 is enriched at the presynaptic compartment where it regulates vesicle trafficking and neurotransmitter release. However, whether the role of LRRK2 affects neuronal networks dynamic at systems level remains unknown. Addressing this question is critical to unravel the impact of LRRK2 on brain function. Here, combining behavioral tests, electrophysiological recordings, and functional imaging, we investigated neuronal network dynamics, in vivo, in the olfactory bulb of mice carrying a null mutation in LRRK2 gene (LRRK2 knockout, LRRK2 KO, mice). We found that LRRK2 KO mice exhibit olfactory behavioral deficits. At the circuit level, the lack of LRRK2 expression results in altered gamma rhythms and odorant-evoked activity with significant impairments, while the spontaneous activity exhibited limited alterations. Overall, our data in the olfactory bulb suggest that the multifaced role of LRRK2 has a strong impact at system level when the network is engaged in active sensory processing.
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- 2021
13. The Anti-Pseudomonal Peptide D-BMAP18 Is Active in Cystic Fibrosis Sputum and Displays Anti-Inflammatory In Vitro Activity
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Andrea Taddio, Mario Mardirossian, Margherita Degasperi, Marco Scocchi, Massimo Maschio, Chiara Agostinis, Roberta Bulla, Degasperi, M., Agostinis, C., Mardirossian, M., Maschio, M., Taddio, A., Bulla, R., and Scocchi, M.
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0301 basic medicine ,Microbiology (medical) ,antimicrobial peptide ,medicine.drug_class ,030106 microbiology ,Inflammation ,Context (language use) ,P. aeruginosa infection ,medicine.disease_cause ,Microbiology ,Cystic fibrosis ,Article ,Anti-inflammatory ,cystic fibrosis ,03 medical and health sciences ,Virology ,medicine ,lcsh:QH301-705.5 ,Antimicrobial peptide ,BMAP-18 ,Pseudomonas aeruginosa ,Chemistry ,Biofilm ,medicine.disease ,Antimicrobial ,030104 developmental biology ,lcsh:Biology (General) ,inflammation ,Cystic fibrosi ,Sputum ,medicine.symptom - Abstract
Most Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients succumb to airway inflammation and pulmonary infections due to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. D-BMAP18, a membrane-permeabilizing antimicrobial peptide composed of D-amino acids, was evaluated as a possible antibacterial aimed to address this issue. The antipseudomonal activity of D-BMAP18 was tested in a pathophysiological context. The peptide displayed activity against CF isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the presence of CF sputum when combined with sodium chloride and DNase I. In combination with DNase I, D-BMAP18 discouraged the deposition of new biofilm and eradicated preformed biofilms of some P. aeruginosa strains. In addition, D-BMAP18 down regulated the production of TNF-&alpha, IL1-&beta, and TGF-&beta, in LPS-stimulated or IFN-&gamma, macrophages derived from THP-1 cells indicating an anti-inflammatory activity. The biocompatibility of D-BMAP18 was assessed using four different cell lines, showing that residual cell-specific cytotoxicity at bactericidal concentrations could be abolished by the presence of CF sputum. Overall, this study suggests that D-BMAP18 may be an interesting molecule as a starting point to develop a novel therapeutic agent to simultaneously contrast lung infections and inflammation in CF patients.
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- 2020
14. Perampanel Confirms to Be Effective and Well-Tolerated as an Add-On Treatment in Patients With Brain Tumor-Related Epilepsy (PERADET Study)
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Antonietta Coppola, Alessia Zarabla, Andrea Maialetti, Veronica Villani, Tatiana Koudriavtseva, Emilio Russo, Agostino Nozzolillo, Chiara Sueri, Vincenzo Belcastro, Simona Balestrini, Edoardo Ferlazzo, Diana Giannarelli, Leonilda Bilo, Marta Maschio, Coppola, A., Zarabla, A., Maialetti, A., Villani, V., Koudriavtseva, T., Russo, E., Nozzolillo, A., Sueri, C., Belcastro, V., Balestrini, S., Ferlazzo, E., Giannarelli, D., Bilo, L., and Maschio, M.
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medicine.medical_specialty ,Population ,efficacy ,brain tumor-related epilepsy ,lcsh:RC346-429 ,03 medical and health sciences ,Perampanel ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Epilepsy ,0302 clinical medicine ,Quality of life ,perampanel ,Internal medicine ,Clinical endpoint ,Medicine ,tolerability ,Adverse effect ,education ,lcsh:Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system ,Original Research ,education.field_of_study ,Intention-to-treat analysis ,business.industry ,medicine.disease ,Tolerability ,chemistry ,Neurology ,quality of life ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Neurology (clinical) ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common symptoms of brain tumors. It is often drug resistant and generally worsen patients' quality of life (QoL). Brain tumors release glutamate among other mediators, contributing to seizures onset, and this is accompanied by an increased AMPA receptors' expression on neuronal cells' membrane. Perampanel (PER) is a relatively new antiseizure medication (ASM) that acts as a selective non-competitive AMPA receptors' antagonist. Given its mechanism of action, we aimed to evaluate through a prospective, observational study, the efficacy and safety of PER as an add-on treatment in patients with brain tumor-related epilepsy (BTRE). The study was called PERADET. Methods: Thirty-six adult patients (intention to treat population-ITT) affected by BTRE, with uncontrolled focal-onset seizures treated with 1–3 ASMs were recruited from four Italian epilepsy centers. Perampanel was added-on, titrated from 2 mg/day up to a maximum of 12 mg/day. Tumor history and therapy, type, and seizures frequency, previous ASMs were collected at 6 and 12 months. A battery of QoL tests were administered at baseline, 6 and 12 months. The primary endpoint was to assess the efficacy of PER by calculating the percent change in seizure frequency and the responder rate. The secondary endpoints were tolerability, retention rate at 12 months, and improvement in quality of life. Results: At the end of 12 months, 21 patients (per protocol population-PP) were available for evaluation. In this population the responder rate (percentage of patients who experienced a 50% or greater reduction in seizure frequency) was 90.4 with 33.3% of patients being seizure-free. In the ITT group the responder rate at the end of 12 months was 66.6 with 25% of patients being seizure free. PER was well tolerated (30.6% of patients experienced an adverse event, none was severe; three needed a treatment interruptions). Conclusions: Our study indicate that PER may be efficacious against BTRE as suggested by its mechanism of action and our current knowledge on mechanisms of brain tumor epileptogenicity. Trial Registration Number (TRN): (Prot. n° 0008872.25-06-2019); RS 919/17.
- Published
- 2020
15. Fasting Whole-Body Energy Homeostasis and Hepatic Energy Metabolism in Nondiabetic Humans with Fatty Liver
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Silvia Perra, M Radaelli, Antonio Esposito, Giovanna Castoldi, Francesco De Cobelli, Alessandro Del Maschio, Guido Lattuada, Gianluca Perseghin, Giuseppina Manzoni, Lattuada, G., Radaelli, M. G., De Cobelli, F., Esposito, A., Manzoni, G., Perra, S., Del Maschio, A., Castoldi, G., Perseghin, G., Lattuada, G, Radaelli, M, De Cobelli, F, Esposito, A, Manzoni, G, Perra, S, Del Maschio, A, Castoldi, G, and Perseghin, G
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Adult ,Male ,Aging ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Article Subject ,Oxidative phosphorylation ,Biochemistry ,Energy homeostasis ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,NEFA ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Homeostasis ,Humans ,Resting energy expenditure ,lcsh:QH573-671 ,MED/13 - ENDOCRINOLOGIA ,lcsh:Cytology ,Fatty liver ,Cell Biology ,General Medicine ,Fasting ,medicine.disease ,Fatty Liver ,Endocrinology ,chemistry ,Case-Control Studies ,31P Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, intra-hepatic fat, hepatic high energy phosphates ,Female ,Energy Metabolism ,Flux (metabolism) ,Phosphomonoesters ,Research Article - Abstract
Background. Fatty liver is believed to be sustained by a higher than normal adipose-derived NEFA flux to the liver. Also, hepatic energy metabolism may be a rate-limiting step of intrahepatic fat (IHF) accumulation. Aims. To assess whole-body energy metabolism and hepatic high-energy phosphates (HEPs) in individuals with fatty liver. Methods. We studied 22 individuals with fatty liver and 22 control individuals matched for anthropometric features by means of (1) hepatic 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to measure the IHF content, (2) hepatic 31P-MRS to assess the relative content of HEPs (phosphomonoesters, phosphodiesters, inorganic phosphorus, and ATP), and (3) indirect calorimetry to assess whole-body resting energy expenditure and substrate oxidation. Results. Patients with newly diagnosed fatty liver and controls were not different for anthropometric parameters. Based on HOMA2%-S, individuals with fatty liver were more insulin resistant than controls. Resting energy expenditure and the pattern of substrate oxidation were not different between groups. Relative content of HEPs was not different between groups; in particular, the Pi/γ-ATP ratio, the most important signals in terms of monitoring energy homeostasis, was not different even if it was associated with indirect calorimetry-derived parameters of oxidative substrate disposal. Conclusions. These data demonstrate that fasting whole-body energy metabolism and the relative content of HEPs in nondiabetic patients with fatty liver are not different than those in controls when they are matched for anthropometric features.
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- 2019
16. Study of Soybean Oil Epoxidation: Effects of Sulfuric Acid and the Mixing Program
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Damiano Piccolo, Ernesto Salzano, Alessandra Lorenzetti, Giuseppe Maschio, Chiara Vianello, Vianello, C., Piccolo, D., Lorenzetti, A., Salzano, E., and Maschio, G.
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food.ingredient ,Formic acid ,General Chemical Engineering ,Mixing (process engineering) ,02 engineering and technology ,Peroxide ,010402 general chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering ,Soybean oil ,Catalysis ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Acetic acid ,food ,Mixing ,Oxidation ,Organic chemistry ,Hydrogen peroxide ,Plasticizer ,Sulfuric acid ,General Chemistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Phthalates, Soybean oil ,0104 chemical sciences ,Corrosion ,Sulfuric acid, Acid catalyst ,chemistry ,Solvent ,Catalyst ,Epoxidized vegetable oil ,0210 nano-technology - Abstract
Epoxidized vegetable oils are largely employed as plasticizers instead of harmful phthalates, and they can be a sustainable choice to produce lubricants and intermediates. The aim of this work is to study the reaction of soybean oil epoxidation of soybean using safer reactants. The reaction was carried out using hydrogen peroxide 34 wt % and acetic acid instead of the commonly used hydrogen peroxide at 60 wt % and formic acid to reduce the risk of detonation and corrosion. Moreover, the study focuses on the efficacy of the presence of an acid catalyst and sulfuric acid and the effect of its concentration. It was found that it is not possible to carry out the process without acid catalyst with those reactants. In addition, a proper mixing program was set up to improve the selectivity of the reaction. © 2018 American Chemical Society.
- Published
- 2018
17. Case Report: Probable Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy-Related Inflammation During Bevacizumab Treatment for Metastatic Cervical Cancer
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Domenico Sergi, Marta Maschio, Annunziata Stefanile, Tatiana Koudriavtseva, Svetlana Lorenzano, Carlo Piantadosi, Edvina Galiè, Enea Gino Di Domenico, and Vincenzo Anelli
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0301 basic medicine ,Cancer Research ,Pathology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Bevacizumab ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Inflammation ,bevacizumab ,metastatic cervical cancer ,Proinflammatory cytokine ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,Vasculogenesis ,medicine ,case report ,Fibrinoid necrosis ,RC254-282 ,case report, Bevacizumab, metastatic cervical cancer, cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation, microhemorrhages 3 ,Chemotherapy ,business.industry ,Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens ,microhemorrhages 3 ,medicine.disease ,Vascular endothelial growth factor ,030104 developmental biology ,Oncology ,chemistry ,Cerebral amyloid angiopathy ,medicine.symptom ,cerebral amyloid angiopathy-related inflammation ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Bevacizumab is an anti-angiogenic monoclonal antibody targeting Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) that induces the proliferation and migration of vascular endothelial cells thus, promoting vasculogenesis. Bevacizumab inhibits cancer angiogenesis, which is fundamental for either tumor development, exponential growth, or metastatic spread by supplying nutrients and oxygen. We report a new possible adverse event of bevacizumab, a Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy-Related Inflammation (CAARI), in a 72-year-old woman with metastatic cervical cancer. After six cycles every three weeks of chemotherapy (cisplatin, paclitaxel, bevacizumab) and following two maintenance bevacizumab administrations, the patient presented a worsening confusional state. The MRI scan showed bilateral asymmetric temporo-parieto-occipital hyperintensity with numerous cortical microbleeds indicative of a CAARI. After stopping bevacizumab treatment, steroid therapy was administered resulting in rapid clinical improvement. The subsequent neurological and oncological follow-up was negative for recurrence. The patient was a heterozygote carrier for apolipoprotein-E ε4 that increases the risk of sporadic Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA), which is characterized by beta-amyloid accumulation and fibrinoid necrosis in cerebral vasculature leading to micro/macrohemorrhages and dementia. Moreover, CAA is present in 30% of people aged over 60 years without dementia. In the brains of CAA patients, there is a proinflammatory state with cerebrovascular endothelial cell alteration and elevated levels of either adhesion molecules or inflammatory interleukins that increase the blood–brain barrier permeability. Moreover, CAARI is an inflammatory form of CAA. Inhibition of VEGF, which has anti-apoptotic, anti-inflammatory, and pro-survival effects on endothelial cells, impairs their regenerative capacity and increases expression of proinflammatory genes leading to weakened supporting layers of blood vessels and, hence, to damaged vascular integrity. In our patient, bevacizumab administration may have further increased permeability of cerebral microvasculature likely impaired by an underlying, asymptomatic CAA. To our knowledge, this is the first case reporting on the development of probable CAARI during bevacizumab treatment, which should alert the clinicians in case of neurological symptom onset in older patients under anti-angiogenic therapy.
- Published
- 2021
18. In situ electroporation of mammalian cells through SiO2 thin film capacitive microelectrodes
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Marta Maschietto, M. Dal Maschio, Stefano Vassanelli, and Stefano Girardi
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Science ,Cell ,Gene Expression ,CHO Cells ,02 engineering and technology ,Transfection ,Article ,Cell Line ,03 medical and health sciences ,Cricetulus ,medicine ,Animals ,Gene delivery ,Viability assay ,RNA, Small Interfering ,Rats, Wistar ,030304 developmental biology ,Mammals ,Neurons ,Biophysical methods ,0303 health sciences ,Multidisciplinary ,Chemistry ,Electroporation ,DNA ,Silicon Dioxide ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,In vitro ,Rats ,Microelectrode ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Cell culture ,Nucleic acid ,Biophysics ,Medicine ,0210 nano-technology ,Microelectrodes ,Plasmids - Abstract
Electroporation is a widely used non-viral technique for the delivery of molecules, including nucleic acids, into cells. Recently, electronic microsystems that miniaturize the electroporation machinery have been developed as a new tool for genetic manipulation of cells in vitro, by integrating metal microelectrodes in the culture substrate and enabling electroporation in-situ. We report that non-faradic SiO2 thin film-insulated microelectrodes can be used for reliable and spatially selective in-situ electroporation of mammalian cells. CHO-K1 and SH-SY5Y cell lines and primary neuronal cultures were electroporated by application of short and low amplitude voltage transients leading to cell electroporation by capacitive currents. We demonstrate reliable delivery of DNA plasmids and exogenous gene expression, accompanied by high spatial selectivity and cell viability, even with differentiated neurons. Finally, we show that SiO2 thin film-insulated microelectrodes support a double and serial transfection of the targeted cells.
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- 2021
19. Synergistic Effect of Perampanel and Temozolomide in Human Glioma Cell Lines
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Andrea Salmaggi, Emilio Ciusani, Cristina Corno, Marta Maschio, Sara Donzelli, Paola Perego, and Annachiara D'Urso
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medicine.medical_treatment ,Medicine (miscellaneous) ,glutamate ,AMPA receptor ,Pharmacology ,Article ,03 medical and health sciences ,Perampanel ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,perampanel ,medicine ,Glutamate receptor antagonist ,Receptor ,AMPA receptors ,030304 developmental biology ,0303 health sciences ,Chemotherapy ,Temozolomide ,glioblastoma ,Drug interaction ,chemistry ,Apoptosis ,Medicine ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Glioblastoma is characterized by a high proliferative rate and drug resistance. The standard of care includes maximal safe surgery, followed by radiotherapy and temozolomide chemotherapy. The expression of glutamate receptors has been previously reported in human glioma cell lines. The aim of this study was to examine the cellular effects of perampanel, a broad-spectrum antiepileptic drug acting as an α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPA) glutamate receptor antagonist, alone or in combination with temozolomide. Four human glioma cell lines were exposed to different concentrations of perampanel and temozolomide, alone or in combination. The type of drug interaction was assessed using the Chou-Talalay method. Apoptosis, cell cycle perturbation, and glutamate receptors (GluRs) subunit expression were assessed by flow cytometry. Perampanel significantly inhibited the growth, inducing high levels of apoptosis. A strong synergistic effect of the combination of perampanel with temozolomide was detected in U87 and A172, but not in U138. Treatment with perampanel resulted in an increased GluR2/3 subunit expression in U87 and U138. Perampanel displays a pro-apoptotic effect on human glioblastoma cell lines when used alone, possibly due to increased GluR2/3 expression. The observed synergistic effect of the combination of temozolomide with perampanel suggests further investigation on the impact of this combination on oncologic outcomes in glioblastoma.
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- 2021
20. SARS-CoV-2 infection in cystic fibrosis: A multicentre prospective study with a control group, Italy, February-July 2020
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Colombo, C., Alicandro, G., Dacco, V., Gagliano, V., Morlacchi, L. C., Casciaro, R., Pisi, G., Francalanci, M., Badolato, R., Bignamini, E., Messore, B., Lucanto, M. C., Leonetti, G., Maschio, M., and Cipolli, M.
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RNA viruses ,Male ,Viral Diseases ,Pulmonology ,Cystic Fibrosis ,Coronaviruses ,Epidemiology ,Medical Conditions ,Antibiotics ,Prospective Studies ,Pathology and laboratory medicine ,Virus Testing ,Antimicrobials ,Drugs ,Disease Management ,Medical microbiology ,Hospitalization ,Chemistry ,Infectious Diseases ,Italy ,Genetic Diseases ,Viruses ,Physical Sciences ,Female ,SARS CoV 2 ,Pathogens ,Research Article ,Chemical Elements ,Adult ,SARS coronavirus ,Microbiology ,Respiratory Disorders ,Young Adult ,Autosomal Recessive Diseases ,Diagnostic Medicine ,Microbial Control ,Humans ,Pandemics ,Medicine and health sciences ,Clinical Genetics ,Pharmacology ,Biology and life sciences ,SARS-CoV-2 ,Organisms ,Viral pathogens ,COVID-19 ,Covid 19 ,Fibrosis ,Microbial pathogens ,Oxygen ,Respiratory Infections ,Developmental Biology - Abstract
Objective To describe the symptoms and clinical course of SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Methods We carried out a prospective multicentre cohort study based on 32 CF centres and 6597 patients. Centres were contacted to collect baseline and follow-up data of patients who reported symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 or who had contact with a positive/suspected case between the end of February and July 2020. Symptoms and clinical course of the infection were compared between patients who tested positive by molecular testing (cases) and those who tested negative (controls). Results Thirty patients were reported from the centres, 16 of them tested positive and 14 tested negative. No differences in symptoms and outcome of the disease were observed between groups. Fever, cough, asthenia and dyspnea were the most frequently reported symptoms. Eight cases (50%) were hospitalized but none required ICU admission. Two adults with a history of lung transplant required non-invasive ventilation, none required ICU admission and all patients fully recovered without short-term sequelae. Conclusions The course of SARS-CoV-2 in our patients was relatively favorable. However, COVID-19 should not be considered a mild disease in CF patients, particularly for those with severely impaired respiratory function and organ transplant.
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- 2021
21. A Natural Diels‐Alder Biocatalyst Enables Efficient [4+2] Cycloaddition Under Harsh Reaction Conditions
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Li-Chen Han, Matthew J. Byrne, James E. M. Stach, Carl O. Marsh, Nicholas R. Lees, Phillip W. Duke, Laurence Maschio, Sebastian Pagden‐Ratcliffe, Paul R. Race, Paul Curnow, Christine L. Willis, and Sbusisiwe Z. Mbatha
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Reaction conditions ,natural products ,Chemistry ,Bristol BioDesign Institute ,Organic Chemistry ,BrisSynBio ,Catalysis ,Cycloaddition ,Inorganic Chemistry ,BCS and TECS CDTs ,Biocatalysis ,protein folding ,Diels alder ,Organic chemistry ,Diels-Alderase ,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry ,cycloaddition ,Synthetic biology - Abstract
Carbon‐carbon bond formation is a fundamental transformation in both synthetic chemistry and biosynthesis. Enzymes catalyze such reactions with exquisite selectivity which often cannot be achieved using non‐biological methods but may suffer from an intolerance of high temperature and the presence of organic solvents limiting their applications. Here we report the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of the β‐barrel natural Diels‐Alderase AbyU, which catalyzes formation of the spirotetronate core of the antimicrobial natural product abyssomicin C, with creation of 3 new asymmetric centers. This enzyme is shown to catalyze [4 + 2] cycloadditions at elevated temperature (up to 65 oC), and in the presence of organic solvents (MeOH, CH3CN and DMSO) and the chemical denaturant guanidinium hydrochloride, revealing that AbyU has potential widespread value as a biocatalyst.
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- 2019
22. Phase II study of weekly carboplatin in pretreated adult malignant gliomas
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Francesca Sperati, Veronica Villani, Beatrice Casini, Alessandra Fabi, Marta Maschio, Carosi Mariantonia, Giulio Metro, Antonello Vidiri, Koudriavtseva Tatiana, Antonio Tanzilli, Andrea Pace, Francesco Cognetti, and Irene Terrenato
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Adult ,Male ,Oncology ,Cancer Research ,medicine.medical_specialty ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Phases of clinical research ,Antineoplastic Agents ,Recurrent Glioma ,Carboplatin ,Young Adult ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,Glioma ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Progression-free survival ,Aged ,Salvage Therapy ,Chemotherapy ,Temozolomide ,Brain Neoplasms ,business.industry ,Middle Aged ,Prognosis ,medicine.disease ,Survival Rate ,Neurology ,Tolerability ,chemistry ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Female ,Neurology (clinical) ,Neoplasm Recurrence, Local ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Follow-Up Studies ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Patients with relapse of recurrent glioma have a poor outcome and limited treatment options. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical benefit and tolerability of weekly intravenous administration of carboplatin-based monotherapy in adult glioma patients who had progressed from previous chemotherapy lines based on temozolomide and nitrosoureas. This was a single-arm, phase II study. Eligibility criteria included progressive or recurrent glioma after radiotherapy and chemotherapy-based treatments and Karnofsky performance status (KPS) > 60. Thirty-two patients (median age 43.5 years) were enrolled to receive weekly carboplatin monotherapy in an intravenous method of administration. The median duration of response was 7.3 months with an overall disease control rate of 31.3%. Median progression-free survival was 2.3 months while overall survival was 5.5 months. Pre-treatment with corticosteroids (i.e. dexamethasone) was associated to clinical benefit in 43.8% of patients. Patients achieving clinical benefit exhibited a longer progression-free survival (4.6 vs. 1.5 months; p > 0.001) and overall survival (7.9 vs. 3.2 months; p = 0.041) compared with those not achieving clinical benefit. Our findings show that single agent, weekly, intravenous administration of carboplatin may have a role in patients with recurrent glioma and suggest that pre-treatment with corticosteroids may confer survival benefit.
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- 2019
23. Evaluation of Angiogenesis Process after Metformin and LY294002 Treatment in Mammary Tumor
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Debora Aparecida Pires de Campos Zuccari, Nathália Martins Sonehara, Camila Leonel, Bruna Victorasso Jardim-Perassi, Lívia Carvalho Ferreira, Eva Hellmén, Lívia Gabriélle Gabriélle Silva Carvalho, Marina Gobbe Moschetta, Larissa Bazela Maschio-Signorini, Gabriela Bottaro Gelaleti, and Thaiz F. Borin
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Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ,CD31 ,Cancer Research ,Angiogenesis ,Morpholines ,Mice, Nude ,Mammary Neoplasms, Animal ,Mice ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Dogs ,0302 clinical medicine ,Cell Line, Tumor ,medicine ,Animals ,Dog Diseases ,Viability assay ,Protein kinase B ,030304 developmental biology ,Pharmacology ,Mice, Inbred BALB C ,0303 health sciences ,Mammary tumor ,Neovascularization, Pathologic ,business.industry ,Cobalt ,Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit ,Metformin ,Oxygen ,Vascular endothelial growth factor ,Vascular endothelial growth factor A ,chemistry ,Chromones ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Cancer research ,Molecular Medicine ,Female ,business ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Background:The angiogenesis process is regulated by many factors, such as Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). Metformin has demonstrated its ability to inhibit cell growth and the LY294002 is the major inhibitor of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway that has antiangiogenic properties.Methods:Canine mammary tumor cell lines CMT-U229 and CF41 were treated with metformin and LY294002. Cell viability, protein and gene expression of VEGF and HIF-1 were determined in vitro. For the in vivo study, CF41 cells were inoculated in female athymic nude mice treated with either metformin or LY294002. The microvessel density by immunohistochemistry for CD31 as well as the gene and protein expression of HIF-1 and VEGF were evaluated.Results:The treatment with metformin and LY294002 was able to reduce the cellular viability after 24 hours. The protein and gene expression of HIF-1 and VEGF decreased after treatment with metformin and LY294002. In the in vivo study, there was a decrease in tumor size, protein and gene expression of HIF-1 and VEGFA, in addition to the decreasing of CD31 expression after all treatments.Conclusion:Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of metformin and LY294002 in controlling the angiogenesis process in mammary tumors by VEGF and HIF-1, the most important angiogenic markers.
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- 2019
24. Waste olivine and silica sands boost geopolymers’ performances: experimental investigation
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Erika Furlani, Francesco Andreatta, Lorenzo Fedrizzi, E. Mingone, M. Magnan, Stefano Maschio, Eleonora Aneggi, and M. Deison
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Materials science ,Absorption of water ,Geography, Planning and Development ,0211 other engineering and technologies ,Geopolymers ,olivine ,silica ,compressive strength ,Sodium silicate ,02 engineering and technology ,010501 environmental sciences ,engineering.material ,01 natural sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Specific surface area ,021108 energy ,Computers in Earth Sciences ,Waste Management and Disposal ,Metakaolin ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Olivine ,Ecology ,Microstructure ,Pollution ,Compressive strength ,chemistry ,Chemical engineering ,Sodium hydroxide ,engineering - Abstract
The present research deals with the production and characterisation of geopolymers prepared by mixing metakaolin (MK), a commercial sodium silicate solution, a sodium hydroxide solution and two types of industrial by-products: one olivine (OS) and one silica sand (SS) both of them in form of loose powders. Different specimens were prepared by mixing different quantities of OS or SS to the blank geopolymeric matrix. Specimens containing MK, a commercial sodium silicate solution and a sodium hydroxide solution were also prepared as blank composition for comparison. All specimens were characterised by their compressive strength, water absorption, pore size distribution, specific surface area and microstructure. The addition of olivine or silica powders improves the performances of the resulting materials in all the compositions examined, but those containing 50 wt% of added sand (relative to the amount of MK) displayed the best mechanical behaviour.
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- 2019
25. Box Behnken design of siRNA-loaded liposomes for the treatment of a murine model of ocular keratitis caused by Acanthamoeba
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Helder Ferreira Teixeira, Nathalya Tesch Brazil, Roselena Silvestri Schuh, Marilise Brittes Rott, Giovanni K. Zorzi, and Vinicius José Maschio
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Protozoan Proteins ,Acanthamoeba ,02 engineering and technology ,Pharmacology ,01 natural sciences ,Polyethylene Glycols ,Cornea ,Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ,Drug Delivery Systems ,Colloid and Surface Chemistry ,Cationic liposome ,RNA, Small Interfering ,Cytopathic effect ,Liposome ,010304 chemical physics ,biology ,Chemistry ,Chlorhexidine ,Glycogen Phosphorylase ,Surfaces and Interfaces ,General Medicine ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Drug Therapy, Combination ,0210 nano-technology ,Biotechnology ,medicine.drug ,Drug Compounding ,Drug Administration Schedule ,Keratitis ,0103 physical sciences ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,Trophozoites ,Rats, Wistar ,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry ,Phosphatidylethanolamines ,medicine.disease ,biology.organism_classification ,Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases ,Rats ,Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ,Contact lens ,Disease Models, Animal ,Acanthamoeba Keratitis ,Gene Expression Regulation ,Acanthamoeba keratitis ,Liposomes ,Factor Analysis, Statistical - Abstract
Acanthamoeba keratitis is an ophthalmic disease with no specific treatment that specially affects contact lens users. The silencing of serine phosphatase (SP) and glycogen phosphorylase (GP) proteins produced by Acanthamoeba has been shown to significantly reduce the cytopathic effect, although no vehicle was proposed yet to deliver the siRNA sequences to the trophozoites. In this study, PEGylated cationic liposomes were proposed and optimized using Box-Behnken design. The influence of DOTAP:DOPE ratio, DSPE-PEG concentration, and siRNA/DOTAP charge ratio were evaluated over both biological response and physicochemical properties of liposomes. The ratio of DOTAP:DOPE had an effect in the trophozoite activity whereas the charge ratio influenced both size and protease activity. The predicted values were very close to the observed values, yielding a formulation with good activity and toxicity profile, which was used in the following experiments. A murine model of ocular keratitis was treated with siGP + siSP-loaded liposomes, as well as their respective controls, and combined treatment of liposomes and chlorhexidine. After 15 days of eight daily administrations, the liposomal complex combined with chlorhexidine was the only treatment able to reverse the more severe lesions associated with keratitis. There was 60% complete regression in corneal damage, with histological sections demonstrating the presence of an integral epithelium, without lymphocytic infiltrate. The set of results demonstrate the efficacy of a combined therapy based on siRNA with classical drugs for a better prognosis of keratitis caused by Acanthamoeba.
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- 2019
26. Perampanel in patients with brain tumor-related epilepsy in real-life clinical practice: a retrospective analysis
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Giada Pauletto, Alessia Zarabla, Tamara Lus, Veronica Villani, Tatiana Koudriavtseva, Alessandra Fabi, Andrea Maialetti, Marta Maschio, and Diana Giannarelli
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Male ,0301 basic medicine ,Oncology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Pyridones ,Brain tumor ,Medical Records ,03 medical and health sciences ,Epilepsy ,Perampanel ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,Internal medicine ,Nitriles ,medicine ,Retrospective analysis ,Humans ,In real life ,In patient ,Retrospective Studies ,Brain Neoplasms ,business.industry ,General Neuroscience ,Glutamate receptor ,Glioma ,General Medicine ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Clinical Practice ,Treatment Outcome ,030104 developmental biology ,chemistry ,Anticonvulsants ,Female ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery - Abstract
Epilepsy occurs in 35-70% of patients with gliomas; glutamate plays a central role via AMPA-receptor activation, which is involved both in seizure activity and tumor growth. We conducted a retrospective study on brain tumor-related epilepsy patients (BTRE) treated with perampanel in add-on (PER) for 12 months, to evaluate efficacy and tollerability, according to real-life clinical practice.Medical records of eleven patients (9 males, mean age 54 years) with glioma and epilepsy treated with PER in add-on, for inadequate seizure control or adverse events (AEs) from previous antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) therapy, were reviewed. Data collected included: tumor history, molecular factors, systemic therapy, type and number of seizures and concomitant AEDs, and AEs.After 12 months of PER therapy, five patients were seizure-free, 4 had a seizure reduction ≥50% and the seizure frequency was unchanged in 2 patients. Responder rate was 81.8%. Two patients reported AEs; PER dose was reduced only in the one case. The final median dose of PER was 7.3 mg/day. We didn't find statistically significant differences in the comparison between mean values pre, mean values post and the average of decreasing number of seizures related to: histology, presence/absence of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, progression disease, KPS, IDH1, MGMT.Despite the limitations due to small number of patients in a retrospective study, the high rate of responder and seizure-free patients suggest that PER could be a therapeutic option in BTRE. Prospective controlled studies are needed to confirm our data.
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- 2018
27. Whole brain functional recordings at cellular resolution in zebrafish larvae with 3D scanning multiphoton microscopy
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Matteo Bruzzone, Marco Albanesi, Marco Dal Maschio, Claudia Lodovichi, Aram Megighian, Enrico Chiarello, and Maria Elena Miletto Petrazzini
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0301 basic medicine ,Retinal Ganglion Cells ,Microscope ,Brain activity and meditation ,Science ,ved/biology.organism_classification_rank.species ,Retinal ganglion ,Neural circuits ,Article ,law.invention ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,law ,Microscopy ,Biological neural network ,Premovement neuronal activity ,Animals ,Optical techniques ,Model organism ,Zebrafish ,Multidisciplinary ,biology ,Chemistry ,ved/biology ,fungi ,Brain ,Imaging and sensing ,biology.organism_classification ,030104 developmental biology ,Microscopy, Fluorescence, Multiphoton ,Optics and photonics ,Medicine ,Neuroscience ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Photic Stimulation - Abstract
Optical recordings of neuronal activity at cellular resolution represent an invaluable tool to investigate brain mechanisms. Zebrafish larvae is one of the few model organisms where, using fluorescence-based reporters of the cell activity, it is possible to optically reconstruct the neuronal dynamics across the whole brain. Typically, leveraging the reduced light scattering, methods like lightsheet, structured illumination, and light-field microscopy use spatially extended excitation profiles to detect in parallel activity signals from multiple cells. Here, we present an alternative design for whole brain imaging based on sequential 3D point-scanning excitation. Our approach relies on a multiphoton microscope integrating an electrically tunable lens. We first apply our approach, adopting the GCaMP6s activity reporter, to detect functional responses from retinal ganglion cells (RGC) arborization fields at different depths within the zebrafish larva midbrain. Then, in larvae expressing a nuclear localized GCaMP6s, we recorded whole brain activity with cellular resolution. Adopting a semi-automatic cell segmentation, this allowed reconstructing the activity from up to 52,000 individual neurons across the brain. In conclusion, this design can easily retrofit existing imaging systems and represents a compact, versatile and reliable tool to investigate neuronal activity across the larva brain at high resolution.
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- 2021
28. Proline isomerization effects in the amyloidogenic protein β2-microglobulin
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Maria Celeste Maschio, Carla Molteni, Jacopo Fregoni, and Stefano Corni
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Proline ,Protein Conformation ,General Physics and Astronomy ,Amyloidogenic Proteins ,Molecular Dynamics Simulation ,Hydrophobic effect ,03 medical and health sciences ,Molecular dynamics ,0302 clinical medicine ,Dipeptides ,Humans ,Hydrogen Bonding ,Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ,Point Mutation ,Stereoisomerism ,beta 2-Microglobulin ,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry ,030304 developmental biology ,0303 health sciences ,Hydrogen bond ,Beta-2 microglobulin ,Chemistry ,Metadynamics ,Biophysics ,Isomerization ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Cis–trans isomerism - Abstract
The protein β2-microglobulin (β2-m) can aggregate in insoluble amyloid fibrils, which deposit in the skeletal muscle system of patients undergoing long-term haemodialysis. The molecular mechanisms of such amyloidogenesis are still not fully understood. A potential, although debated, triggering factor is the cis to trans isomerization of a specific proline (Pro32) in β2-m. Here we investigate this process in the native protein and in the aggregation-prone mutant D76N by means of molecular dynamics and the enhanced sampling method metadynamics. Our simulations, including the estimation of the free energy difference between the cis and trans isomers, are in good agreement with in vitro experiments and highlight the importance of the hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interaction network around the critical Pro32 in stabilizing and de-stabilizing the two isomers.
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- 2021
29. Eribulin in brain metastases of breast cancer. outcomes of the EBRAIM prospective observational trial
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Carmine Maria Carapella, Aino, Michela Donadio, Valentina Magri, Stefano Telera, Antonio Tanzilli, Marta Maschio, Veronica Villani, Michela Palleschi, Cecilia Nisticò, Antonello Vidiri, Fulvia Pedani, Giovanni Catania, Roberta Rudà, Andrea Pace, Alessandra Fabi, Francesco Cognetti, Irene Terrenato, and Mario Airoldi
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0301 basic medicine ,Oncology ,Adult ,Cancer Research ,medicine.medical_specialty ,brain control rate ,Observational Trial ,Breast Neoplasms ,Neutropenia ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,Breast cancer ,Internal medicine ,brain metastases ,medicine ,Humans ,Prospective Studies ,Furans ,eribulin ,Aged ,observational trial ,Leukopenia ,business.industry ,Brain Neoplasms ,metastatic breast cancer ,General Medicine ,Ketones ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Prognosis ,Metastatic breast cancer ,Survival Rate ,030104 developmental biology ,chemistry ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Observational study ,Female ,medicine.symptom ,business ,Brain metastasis ,Eribulin ,Follow-Up Studies - Abstract
Background: Eribulin shows some activity in controlling brain metastasis in breast cancer. Methods: This observational, multicenter study evaluated brain disease control rates, survival and safety in patients with brain metastatic breast cancer treated with eribulin in clinical practice. Results: A total of 34 patients were enrolled (mean age 49 years, 91% with visceral metastases) and 29 were evaluable for brain disease. Fourteen achieved disease control and showed a longer time without progression: 10 months (95% CI: 2.3–17.7) versus 4 months (95% CI: 3.3–4.7) in the control group (p = 0.029). Patients with clinical benefits at 6 months had longer survival. Leukopenia and neutropenia were the most frequent grade 3–4 toxicities. Conclusion: Eribulin confirms its effectiveness in patients with brain metastatic breast cancer. Further studies on larger cohorts are needed to confirm the results.
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- 2021
30. Possible Recycling of End-of-Life Dolomite Refractories by the Production of Geopolymer-Based Composites: Experimental Investigation
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Eleonora Aneggi, Erika Furlani, Stefano Maschio, and Alfredo Rondinella
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Materials science ,Dolomite ,0211 other engineering and technologies ,Thermodilatometry ,Sintering ,Sodium silicate ,Compressive strength ,02 engineering and technology ,Environmental Science (miscellaneous) ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Specific surface area ,Composite material ,Metakaolin ,021102 mining & metallurgy ,Shrinkage ,End-of-life dolomite refractories ,Geopolymers ,Metals and Alloys ,Pore size distribution ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Geopolymer ,chemistry ,Mechanics of Materials ,0210 nano-technology - Abstract
Production and characterization of geopolymers prepared by mixing metakaolin, end-of-life dolomite refractories, sodium silicate solution, and sodium hydroxide solution have been performed. The as-received refractory was crumbled in order to obtain products having, respectively, 250 μm, 1 mm, and 2.5 mm maximum particles size. Each batch of powder was added in different proportions to a blank geopolymeric matrix. It has been observed that the addition of waste refractory reduces workability of the reference refractory-free slurry. After hardening, only the set of samples prepared with powders with maximum size of 250 μm maintain integrity while the others resulted affected by the presence of fractures caused by volumetric instabilities; samples with composition R100 showed the highest compressive strength, whereas higher refractory addition lowers strength. Specific surface area appears independent by materials composition; conversely pore volume slightly increases with the addition of dolomite refractory powder. During the thermodilatometric tests all compositions display a shrinkage of about 0.1% between 170 and 400 °C; however, sintering starts at higher temperature (above 600 °C) and samples melt in the range between 650 and 750 °C as a function of their composition, thus showing that the resulting materials loose refractoriness with respect to both the reference geopolymer and the dolomite refractory. Graphical Abstract
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- 2021
31. A Simplified Model to Describe the Effect of Alkyl Anilines on the Polymerization of Methyl Methacrylate
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Alberto Rubinato, Valeria Casson Moreno, Giuseppe Maschio, Casson Moreno, Valeria, Rubinato, Alberto, and Maschio, Giuseppe
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acrylic resin ,Materials Chemistry2506 Metals and Alloys ,Materials science ,Polymers and Plastics ,Radical polymerization ,kinetic ,02 engineering and technology ,010402 general chemistry ,Photochemistry ,01 natural sciences ,acrylic resins ,alkyl aniline ,differential scanning calorimetry ,kinetics ,methyl methacrylate ,modeling ,Condensed Matter Physics ,Organic Chemistry ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Differential scanning calorimetry ,Materials Chemistry ,Methyl methacrylate ,Acrylic resin ,Curing (chemistry) ,Alkyl ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,0104 chemical sciences ,Monomer ,chemistry ,Polymerization ,visual_art ,visual_art.visual_art_medium ,0210 nano-technology - Abstract
Summary In the formulation of acrylic coatings, monomer blends are required to cure in situ using a peroxide initiator. Curing accelerators (typically alkyl anilines) are added to the blend in order to initiate the curing process at room temperature. This was proved to cause a process safety issue related to the presence of accelerators that increase the possibility of runaway reactions especially at industrial scale. In this paper, the polymerization of methyl methacrylate containing different curing accelerators has been studied. Based on Differential Scanning Calorimetry tests, a simplified kinetic model for the polymerization process has been developed, describing the induction time due to the presence of stabilizers, the global kinetic rate, and the influence of diffusion phenomena, based on a free volume theory approach specifically modified for the free radical polymerization of methyl methacrylate added with different types of accelerators.
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- 2016
32. Pediatric Tuberculosis in Italian Children: Epidemiological and Clinical Data from the Italian Register of Pediatric Tuberculosis
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Luisa Galli, Laura Lancella, Chiara Tersigni, Elisabetta Venturini, Elena Chiappini, Barbara Maria Bergamini, Margherita Codifava, Cristina Venturelli, Giulia Tosetti, Caterina Marabotto, Laura Cursi, Elena Boccuzzi, Silvia Garazzino, Pier Angelo Tovo, Michele Pinon, Daniele Le Serre, Laura Castiglioni, Andrea Lo Vecchio, Alfredo Guarino, Eugenia Bruzzese, Giuseppe Losurdo, Elio Castagnola, Grazia Bossi, Gian Luigi Marseglia, Susanna Esposito, Samantha Bosis, Rita Grandolfo, Valentina Fiorito, Piero Valentini, Danilo Buonsenso, Raffaele Domenici, Marco Montesanti, Filippo Maria Salvini, Enrica Riva, Icilio Dodi, Francesca Maschio, Luisa Abbagnato, Elisa Fiumana, Chiara Fornabaio, Patrizia Ballista, Vincenzo Portelli, Gabriella Bottone, Nicola Palladino, Mariella Valenzise, Barbara Vecchi, Maria Di Gangi, Carla Lupi, Alberto Villani, and Maurizio de Martino
- Subjects
tuberculosis ,children ,Italian ,register ,Biology (General) ,QH301-705.5 ,Chemistry ,QD1-999 - Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Over the last decades, TB has also emerged in the pediatric population. Epidemiologic data of childhood TB are still limited and there is an urgent need of more data on very large cohorts. A multicenter study was conducted in 27 pediatric hospitals, pediatric wards, and public health centers in Italy using a standardized form, covering the period of time between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2012. Children with active TB, latent TB, and those recently exposed to TB or recently adopted/immigrated from a high TB incidence country were enrolled. Overall, 4234 children were included; 554 (13.1%) children had active TB, 594 (14.0%) latent TB and 3086 (72.9%) were uninfected. Among children with active TB, 481 (86.8%) patients had pulmonary TB. The treatment of active TB cases was known for 96.4% (n = 534) of the cases. Overall, 210 (39.3%) out of these 534 children were treated with three and 216 (40.4%) with four first-line drugs. Second-line drugs where used in 87 (16.3%) children with active TB. Drug-resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were reported in 39 (7%) children. Improving the surveillance of childhood TB is important for public health care workers and pediatricians. A non-negligible proportion of children had drug-resistant TB and was treated with second-line drugs, most of which are off-label in the pediatric age. Future efforts should concentrate on improving active surveillance, diagnostic tools, and the availability of antitubercular pediatric formulations, also in low-endemic countries.
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- 2016
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33. Fragment-Based Restricted Active Space Configuration Interaction with Second-order corrections Embedded in Periodic Hartree-Fock Wavefunction
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Denis Usvyat, Thomas Heine, Hung Hsuan Lin, Daniel Kats, and Lorenzo Maschio
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Physics ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,Hartree–Fock method ,Graphane ,Electronic structure ,Physics::Chemical Physics ,Perturbation theory ,Configuration interaction ,Wave function ,Potential energy ,Molecular physics ,Dissociation (chemistry) - Abstract
We present a computational scheme for restricted-active-space configuration inter- action (RASCI) calculations combined with second-order perturbation theory (RASCI- PT2) on a fragment of a periodic system embedded in the periodic Hartree-Fock (HF) wavefunction. This method allows one to calculate the electronic structure of localized strongly-correlated features in crystals and surfaces. The scheme was implemented via an interface between the Cryscor and Q-Chem codes. To evaluate the performance of the embedding method, we explored dissociation of fluorine atom from a lithium flu- oride surface and partially fluorinated graphane layer. The results show that RASCI and RASCI-PT2 embedded in periodic HF are able to produce well-behaved potential energy surfaces and accurate dissociation energies.
- Published
- 2020
34. Author response for 'Perampanel in brain tumor-related epilepsy: Observational pilot study'
- Author
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Veronica Villani, Marta Maschio, Tatiana Koudriavtseva, Diana Giannarelli, Alessia Zarabla, Silvana Zannino, and Andrea Maialetti
- Subjects
Oncology ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Perampanel ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Epilepsy ,chemistry ,business.industry ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Brain tumor ,Observational study ,medicine.disease ,business - Published
- 2020
35. Survey on chemical, physical, and thermal prediction behaviors for sequential chemical treatments used to obtain cellulose from Imperata Brasiliensis
- Author
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Maria Odila Hilário Cioffi, Paulo Henrique Fernandes Pereira, Leandro José Maschio, Herman Jacobus Cornelis Voorwald, Heitor Luiz Ornaghi, Kelly Cristina Coelho de Carvalho Benini, Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp), and Universidade de São Paulo (USP)
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Thermogravimetric analysis ,Materials science ,Thermal simulation ,Thermal decomposition ,Chemical treatment ,Condensed Matter Physics ,TRATAMENTO TÉRMICO ,Cellulose fiber ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Crystallinity ,chemistry ,Chemical engineering ,Imperata Brasiliensis ,Thermal stability ,sense organs ,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry ,Cellulose ,Hydrogen peroxide ,Chemical composition - Abstract
Made available in DSpace on 2020-12-12T02:32:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2020-01-01 The effects of chemical treatment sequences on the chemical, physical, and mainly the thermal properties of Imperata Brasiliensis grass in the process used to obtain cellulose fibers were analyzed. The thermal properties were extensively investigated by a thermogravimetric analysis, and a thermal behavior prediction was carried out using kinetic parameters and simulation. Thermal simulations using statistical tools enable thermal predictions for any material under different conditions. However, they are currently not widely reported in the literature for untreated and treated natural fibers. We used an alkaline treatment and alkaline treatment followed by one, two, or three bleaching steps with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (24% v/v). After each chemical treatment, changes in chemical composition due to the removal of amorphous constituents were observed and confirmed by the analysis of properties such as coloration, density, porosity, crystallinity, and thermal decomposition. The alkaline treatment followed by one step of bleaching was the most effective and viable chemical treatment sequence to obtain cellulose. The changes in coloration from dark brown to light yellow were accompanied by increases in real density (65%), crystallinity (69%), and thermal stability (27.4%) upon one step of bleaching. In general, the subsequent bleaching steps provided similar values. The predicted thermal degradation profiles were compared with experimental data in order to validate the proposed degradation mechanisms and models. The obtained kinetic parameters adequately described the mass loss histories of the studied natural fibers, even when extremely simplified kinetic schemes were used. The degradation mechanisms consisted of diffusion followed by autocatalytic reactions for all studied fibers. Fatigue and Aeronautical Materials Research Group Department of Materials and Technology UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista Department of Materials Engineering Lorena School of Engineering University of São Paulo Fatigue and Aeronautical Materials Research Group Department of Materials and Technology UNESP - Univ. Estadual Paulista
- Published
- 2020
36. The Effect of Docosahexaenoic Acid and α-Lipoic Acid as Prevention of Bortezomib-Related Neurotoxicity in Patients With Multiple Myeloma
- Author
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Andrea Mengarelli, Andrea Maialetti, Svitlana Gumenyuk, Marta Maschio, Francesco Marchesi, Alessia Zarabla, Francesco Pisani, Diana Giannarelli, Edvina Galiè, and Daniela Renzi
- Subjects
Oncology ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,QoL ,Docosahexaenoic Acids ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Pain ,Antineoplastic Agents ,lcsh:RC254-282 ,nutraceutical compound ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,prevention ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Prospective Studies ,Multiple myeloma ,Aged ,Chemotherapy ,Thioctic Acid ,business.industry ,Bortezomib ,bortezomib ,Neurotoxicity ,Cancer ,medicine.disease ,lcsh:Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens ,multiple myeloma ,Lipoic acid ,Peripheral neuropathy ,Complementary and alternative medicine ,chemistry ,Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Quality of Life ,Female ,Neurotoxicity Syndromes ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,medicine.drug ,Research Article ,chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy ,Follow-Up Studies - Abstract
Background and Aims: In cancer patients, a common complication during chemotherapy is chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). For this reason, we decided to conduct a phase II prospective study on 33 patients with multiple myeloma at first diagnosis, to evaluate whether a nutraceutical compound given for 6 months during bortezomib (BTZ) treatment succeeded in preventing the onset of neurotoxicity. Methods: Neurological evaluation, electroneurography, and functional and quality of life (QoL) scales were performed at baseline and after 6 months. We administered a tablet containing docosahexaenoic acid 400 mg, α-lipoic acid 600 mg, vitamin C 60 mg, and vitamin E 10 mg bid for 6 months. Results: Concerning the 25 patients who completed the study, at 6-month follow-up, 10 patients had no neurotoxicity (NCI-CTCAE [National Cancer Institute-Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events] = 0), while 13 progressed to NCI-CTCAE grade 1, 1 had NCI-CTCAE grade 1 with pain, and 1 experienced a NCI-CTCAE grade 2. Painful symptoms were reported only in 2 patients, and we observed stability on functional and QoL scales in all patients. None of the 25 patients stopped chemotherapy due to neurotoxicity. Conclusions: Our data seem to indicate that the co-administration of a neuroprotective agent during BTZ treatment can prevent the appearance/worsening of symptoms related to CIPN, avoiding the interruption of BTZ and maintaining valuable functional autonomy to allow normal daily activities. We believe that prevention remains the mainstay to preserve QoL in this particular patient population, and that future studies with a larger patient population are needed.
- Published
- 2019
37. Synthesis and characterization of geopolymers containing blends of unprocessed steel slag and metakaolin: The role of slag particle size
- Author
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Erika Furlani, M. Lekka, Francesco Andreatta, Eleonora Aneggi, M. Magnan, Alex Lanzutti, Lorenzo Fedrizzi, and Stefano Maschio
- Subjects
Compressive strength ,Geopolymers ,Specific surface area ,Steel slag ,Water absorption ,Workability ,Absorption of water ,Materials science ,0211 other engineering and technologies ,Sodium silicate ,02 engineering and technology ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,021105 building & construction ,Materials Chemistry ,Metakaolin ,Process Chemistry and Technology ,Metallurgy ,Slag ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Microstructure ,Surfaces, Coatings and Films ,Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials ,chemistry ,Sodium hydroxide ,visual_art ,Ceramics and Composites ,visual_art.visual_art_medium ,0210 nano-technology - Abstract
The present research deals with the production and characterization of geopolymers prepared by mixing metakaolin with a steel slag from the production of chromium-manganese steel, a commercial sodium silicate solution and a sodium hydroxide solution. Different specimens were prepared by mixing metakaolin with different proportions of steel slag (20, 40, 60, 80 wt%) characterized by different maximum particle size. Specimens containing just metakaolin and steel slag alone were also prepared for comparison. All specimens have been characterized regarding their compressive strength, specific surface area, water absorption and microstructure. It has been observed that the use of fine steel slag powders leads to increases the performances and that the specimens containing 40 wt% steel slag and 60 wt% metakaolin revealed the best overall behaviour.
- Published
- 2018
38. A DOE STUDY ON THE HYPERGOLICITY OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE WITH A ROCKET LIQUID FUEL BASED ON MONOETHANOLAMINE AND ETHANOL
- Author
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Leandro José Maschio, William Müller Meyer, Rodrigo Intini Marques, Ricardo Vieira, and Luís Gustavo Ferroni Pereira
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Ethanol ,business.product_category ,Materials science ,Hypergolic propellant ,02 engineering and technology ,Ignition delay ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,law.invention ,Liquid fuel ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,Rocket ,Chemical engineering ,law ,General Materials Science ,0210 nano-technology ,Hydrogen peroxide ,business - Published
- 2018
39. Microwave-assisted synthesis of isosorbide-derived diols for the preparation of thermally stable thermoplastic polyurethane
- Author
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Chiara Vianello, Alessandra Lorenzetti, Michele Modesti, Nadia Hammami, Carlo Boaretti, Paolo Sgarbossa, Nejib Kasmi, Martina Roso, Mustapha Majdoub, and Giuseppe Maschio
- Subjects
Isosorbide ,Materials science ,Polymers and Plastics ,General Chemical Engineering ,02 engineering and technology ,010402 general chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,Microwave assisted ,Article ,thermal stability ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Thermoplastic polyurethane ,Polymer chemistry ,Materials Chemistry ,medicine ,Thermal stability ,Polyurethane ,General Chemistry ,Articles ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,0104 chemical sciences ,lcsh:TP1080-1185 ,chemistry ,lcsh:Polymers and polymer manufacture ,polyurethane ,sulphur ,0210 nano-technology ,microwave assisted synthesis ,medicine.drug - Abstract
In order to prepare thermally stable isosorbide-derived thermoplastic polyurethane, the synthesis of two new chiral exo–exo configured diols, prepared from isosorbide, and two types of diphenols (bisphenol A and thiodiphenol) was described. The synthesis conditions were optimized under conventional heating and microwave irradiations. To prove their suitability in polymerization, these monomers were successfully polymerized using 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI). Both monomers and polymers have been studied by NMR, FT-IR, TGA, DSC; intrinsic viscosity of polymers has also been determined. The results showed the effectiveness of the synthetic strategy proposed; moreover, a dramatic reduction of the reaction time and an important improvement of the monomers yield using microwave irradiation have been demonstrated. The monomers, as well as the polymers, showed excellent thermal stability both in air and nitrogen. It was also shown that the introduction of sulphur in the polyurethane backbone was effective in delaying the onset of degradation as well as the degradation rate.
- Published
- 2017
40. Folic Acid in the Solid State: A Synergistic Computational, Spectroscopic, and Structural Approach
- Author
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Saverio Nanna, Fabrizia Grepioni, Laura Chelazzi, Paola Taddei, Lorenzo Maschio, Dario Braga, Braga, Dario, Chelazzi, Laura, Grepioni, Fabrizia, Maschio, Lorenzo, Nanna, Saverio, and Taddei, Paola
- Subjects
Thermogravimetric analysis ,Chemistry ,Chemistry (all) ,Inorganic chemistry ,02 engineering and technology ,General Chemistry ,010402 general chemistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Condensed Matter Physics ,01 natural sciences ,0104 chemical sciences ,Amorphous solid ,Adduct ,Characterization (materials science) ,symbols.namesake ,Differential scanning calorimetry ,symbols ,General Materials Science ,Materials Science (all) ,0210 nano-technology ,Raman spectroscopy ,Dissolution ,Powder diffraction - Abstract
The structure of folic acid dihydrate has been investigated in the solid state by means of a synergistic approach combining Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, and cutting-edge calculation methods. The comparison of the computed and measured Raman spectra was used to support the finding of a new crystalline form. Crystalline folic acid·2H2O has also been used in the preparation, via solvent free methods, of amorphous multicomponent materials and salts by reacting folic acid with LiOH, NaOH, Na2CO3, and Ca(OH)2, which were also investigated by X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and intrinsic dissolution rate, and this has been compared with the values of the native vitamin. The preparation and characterization of the amorphous, hydrated adduct with LiCl is also reported.
- Published
- 2016
41. Runaway Reaction for the Esterification of Acetic Anhydride with Methanol Catalyzed by Sulfuric Acid
- Author
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Chiara Vianello, Ernesto Salzano, Giuseppe Maschio, Alessio Broccanello, Alessandro Manzardo, Vianello, C., Salzano, E., Broccanello, A., Manzardo, A., and Maschio, G.
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Materials science ,Stability criteria ,Thermal runaway ,Kinetic modeling ,General Chemical Engineering ,Inorganic chemistry ,Batch reactor ,02 engineering and technology ,Runaway reaction ,Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering ,Thermal runaways, Esters ,Catalysis ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,020401 chemical engineering ,Chemical Engineering (all) ,Stability diagram ,0204 chemical engineering ,Sulfuric acid, Acetic anhydride ,Methanol ,Chemistry (all) ,Sulfuric acid ,Thermal explosion ,General Chemistry ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Calorimeter ,Acetic anhydride ,chemistry ,Reactive system ,0210 nano-technology ,Batch reaction - Abstract
This work is devoted to the prevention of runaway reactions for the esterification of acetic anhydride with methanol in the presence of sulfuric acid. To this aim, a kinetic model has been developed and validated through the comparison with experimental data obtained by means of a batch reaction calorimeter operating in isoperibolic conditions. The model, which shows a good agreement with experimental data, then has been adopted for the prediction of the thermal runaway, which may lead to thermal explosion, through the definition of runaway criteria in a batch reactor and through the definition of stability diagram for the reactive system. © 2018 American Chemical Society.
- Published
- 2018
42. A boy with fever, cough and gross haematuria
- Author
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Egidio Barbi, Gabriele Poillucci, Massimo Maschio, Giorgio Cozzi, Marco Pennesi, Cozzi, Giorgio, Maschio, Massimo, Poillucci, Gabriele, Pennesi, Marco, and Barbi, Egidio
- Subjects
Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Fever ,Pleural effusion ,030232 urology & nephrology ,Chest pain ,Gastroenterology ,Diagnosis, Differential ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,0302 clinical medicine ,Pulmonary consolidation ,030225 pediatrics ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,pneumonia ,glomerulonephritis ,hematuria ,Creatinine ,Proteinuria ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,business.industry ,medicine.disease ,Anti-Bacterial Agents ,Surgery ,Radiography ,Pneumonia ,Cough ,chemistry ,Child, Preschool ,Erythrocyte sedimentation rate ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,glomerulonephriti ,Crackles ,medicine.symptom ,business - Abstract
A 5-year-old boy presented with 2 days of fever and cough. On examination, he had mild dyspnoea and chest pain, with crackles and hypoventilation at the right lung base. Blood tests showed white blood cells of 39.1×109/L, neutrophils of 28.9×109/L, haemoglobin of 11.3 g/dL, platelets of 375×109/L, c-reactive protein of 28.7 mg/dL and erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 41 mm/hour. Chest X-ray confirmed a pulmonary consolidation in the right lower lobe (figure 1), with an associated pleural effusion. Bacterial pneumonia was diagnosed and intravenous ceftriaxone 100 mg/kg/ day was started. The following day, he developed palpebral oedema and his urine became tea-coloured. His blood pressure was 126/82 mm Hg (>99th percentile).1 Serum creatinine rose from 0.45 mg/dL to 1.09 mg/dL (39.8–93.4 µmol/L) and C3 was 9 mg/dL (normal range 90–180 mg/dL). Urinalysis revealed gross haematuria and 3+ proteinuria, with microscopy showing dysmorphic red blood cells with casts. Ultrasounds showed enlarged …
- Published
- 2018
43. Thermal behaviour of Peracetic Acid for the epoxydation of vegetable oils in the presence of catalyst
- Author
-
Ernesto Salzano, Chiara Vianello, Giuseppe Maschio, Vianello, C., Salzano, E., and Maschio, G.
- Subjects
Risk ,Safety engineering ,Environmental Engineering ,Thermal risks, Catalyst ,General Chemical Engineering ,0211 other engineering and technologies ,Epoxidation ,02 engineering and technology ,Runaway reaction ,Thermodynamic stability ,Peroxyacetic acid ,Catalysis ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Decomposition ,Kinetic ,Peracetic Acid ,Thermal risk ,Environmental Chemistry ,Chemical Engineering (all) ,Safety, Risk, Reliability and Quality ,Peracetic acid ,Oxidation ,Organic chemistry ,Thermal stability ,Epoxy resin ,Hydrogen peroxide ,Safety parameter ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,021110 strategic, defence & security studies ,Thermal behaviour ,Aqueous two-phase system ,Vegetable oils, Catalytic system ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Chemical processing ,Unsaturated polymer ,Vegetable oil ,chemistry ,Reliability and Quality ,Synthesis (chemical) ,Safety ,0210 nano-technology ,Organic acid ,Chemical industry - Abstract
Peroxyacids are commonly used in chemical processing, synthesis and bleaching. Recently, they have been demonstrated to be very versatile for the epoxidation of unsaturated oil, aiming at the synthesis of polyepoxides (plasticizer, resins and adhesives). These processes are characterized by high yields and selectivity. However, due to their hazard and instability, the peroxy reactants are often obtained from the corresponding organic acid in situ by combination with Hydrogen Peroxide, in the presence of a mineral (Sulphuric or Phosphoric) acid as catalyst. The aim of this study is to analyse the thermal stability of the catalytic system used for vegetable oil peroxidation with the purpose of operating under safety conditions and then identify the safety parameters necessary to prevent the runaway reaction. This paper presents the study of the decomposition of peroxyacetic acid in aqueous phase by using a Thermal Screening Unit. Also, the effect of the presence of the acid catalysts was analysed. © 2018 Institution of Chemical Engineers
- Published
- 2018
44. Butyrate reduces high-fat diet-induced metabolic alterations, hepatic steatosis and pancreatic beta cell and intestinal barrier dysfunctions in prediabetic mice
- Author
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R.B. Oliveira, Daniela A. Maschio, Lcs Monteiro, Valquiria Aparecida Matheus, and Carla B. Collares-Buzato
- Subjects
Male ,0301 basic medicine ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Butyrate ,Biology ,Diet, High-Fat ,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology ,Tight Junctions ,Prediabetic State ,Mice ,03 medical and health sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Insulin-Secreting Cells ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Hyperinsulinemia ,Animals ,Intestinal Mucosa ,Original Research ,chemistry.chemical_classification ,Pancreatic islets ,Fatty acid ,Sodium butyrate ,medicine.disease ,Fatty Liver ,Mice, Inbred C57BL ,030104 developmental biology ,Endocrinology ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ,chemistry ,Dietary Supplements ,Butyric Acid ,medicine.symptom ,Steatosis ,Beta cell ,Weight gain - Abstract
In this study, we investigated the effect of diet supplementation with sodium butyrate (5% w/w), a short-chain fatty acid produced by the intestinal microbiota, on metabolic parameters, body adiposity, hepatic and pancreatic lipid accumulation, beta cell function/mass as well as on the structure and function of the tight junction-mediated intestinal epithelial barrier in both normal and obese/prediabetic C57 mice fed a regular (control) or high-fat diet for 60 days, respectively. Butyrate treatment significantly inhibited all the high-fat-induced metabolic dysfunctions evaluated, i.e. significantly reduced the weight gain and body adiposity as well as the insulin resistant state, hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, without changing food intake. In addition, high-fat-fed mice treated with this short-chain fatty acid displayed no compensatory hyperplasia of pancreatic beta cells nor marked hepatic steatosis as seen in prediabetic mice after high-fat diet only. Isolated pancreatic islets from high-fat-fed mice treated with butyrate showed improvement of the insulin secretion, which was associated with a significant decrease in lipid accumulation within the pancreas. Butyrate enhanced the intestinal epithelial barrier, as revealed by the FITC-Dextran permeability assay, which was accompanied by a significant increase in the junctional content of the tight junction-associated claudin-1 in intestinal epithelia of jejunum, ileum, and colon of both control and high-fat mice. In conclusion, our results showed that diet supplementation with butyrate inhibits the deleterious effects of high-fat diet intake on metabolic parameters and structure/function of several tissues/organs associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus in a mouse model, suggesting a potential use of this short-chain fatty acid in the treatment of this endocrine-metabolic disorder. Impact statement Butyrate is a short-chain fatty acid produced by the intestinal microbiota through the fermentation of non-absorbable carbohydrates and proteins (e.g. fibers). Sodium butyrate incorporated into the diet displayed a protective action on metabolic, hepatic, pancreatic and intestinal alterations induced by high-fat diet in mice, resulting in significant inhibition of the development of a prediabetic state. Thus, our data suggest that butyrate may have a potential therapeutic use in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and related disorders.
- Published
- 2017
45. Melatonin and IL-25 modulate apoptosis and angiogenesis mediators in metastatic (CF-41) and non-metastatic (CMT-U229) canine mammary tumour cells
- Author
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Thaiz F. Borin, Debora Ap. Pires de Campos Zuccari, Alicia Viloria-Petit, Larissa Bazela Maschio-Signorini, Gabriela Bottaro Gelaleti, Marina Gobbe Moschetta, and Eva Hellmén
- Subjects
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ,0301 basic medicine ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Cell Survival ,Angiogenesis ,Fluorescent Antibody Technique ,Apoptosis ,Mammary Neoplasms, Animal ,Melatonin ,03 medical and health sciences ,Dogs ,0302 clinical medicine ,Cell Line, Tumor ,Internal medicine ,Interleukin 25 ,medicine ,Animals ,Dog Diseases ,Gene Silencing ,Viability assay ,Mammary tumor ,General Veterinary ,Caspase 3 ,Chemistry ,Interleukin-17 ,Vascular endothelial growth factor A ,030104 developmental biology ,Endocrinology ,Cell culture ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Cancer research ,Female ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Background Melatonin has oncostatic actions and IL-25 is active in inflammatory processes that induce apoptosis in tumor cells Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate melatonin and IL-25 in metastatic (CF-41) and non-metastatic (CMT-U229) canine mammary tumor cells cultured as monolayers and tridimensional structures. Materials and Methods The cells were treated with melatonin, IL-25 and IL-17B silencing gene and performed cell viability, gene and protein expression of caspase-3 and VEGFA (Vascular endothelial growth factor A) and an apoptosis membrane protein array. Results Treatment with 1 mM of melatonin reduced cell viability of both tumor cell lines, all treatments alone and combined significantly increased caspase-3 cleaved and proteins involved in the apoptotic pathway and reduced pro-angiogenic VEGFA, confirming the effectiveness of these potential promising treatments. Conclusion This is the first study evaluating the potential use of these strategies in CF-41 and CMT-U229 cell lines and together encourages subsequent in vitro and in vivo studies for further exploration of clinical applications.
- Published
- 2017
46. P14.120 Phase II study of weekly carboplatin in pretreated adult malignant gliomas
- Author
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Andrea Pace, Antonio Tanzilli, Antonello Vidiri, Alessandra Fabi, Irene Terrenato, F. Cognetti, Francesca Sperati, Marta Maschio, T koudriavtseva, Veronica Villani, Mariantonia Carosi, and B Casini
- Subjects
Oncology ,Cancer Research ,medicine.medical_specialty ,business.industry ,Phases of clinical research ,Carboplatin ,Poster Presentations ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,Internal medicine ,Medicine ,Neurology (clinical) ,business ,neoplasms - Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with relapse of recurrent glioma have a poor outcome and limited treatment options. The aim of this study is to investigate the clinical benefit and tolerability of weekly intravenous administration of carboplatin-based monotherapy in adult glioma patients who had progressed from previous chemotherapy lines based on temozolomide and nitrosoureas MATERIAL AND METHODS This was a single arm, Phase II study. Eligibility criteria included progressive or recurrent malignant glioma after radiotherapy and chemotherapy-based treatments and Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) > 60. RESULTS Thirty-two patients (median age: 43.5 y) were enrolled to receive weekly carboplatin monotherapy in intravenous mode of administration. The median duration of response was 7.3 months with an overall disease control rate of 31.3%. Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 2.3 months while overall survival (OS) was 5.5 months. Patients achieving clinical benefit exhibited a longer PFS (4.6 vs 1.5 months; p>0.001) and OS (7.9 vs 3.2 months; p=0.041) compared to those not achieving clinical benefit. CONCLUSION Our findings show that single agent, weekly, intravenous carboplatin may have a role in the treatment patients with recurrent malignant glioma
- Published
- 2019
47. Evolutionary Algorithm-Based Crystal Structure Prediction for Copper(I) Fluoride
- Author
-
Mikhail S. Kuklin, Lorenzo Maschio, Denis Usvyat, Florian Kraus, Antti J. Karttunen, Department of Chemistry and Materials Science, University of Turin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, University of Marburg, Inorganic Materials Modelling, Aalto-yliopisto, and Aalto University
- Subjects
Evolutionary algorithm ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Copper(I) fluoride ,semiconductors ,010402 general chemistry ,01 natural sciences ,Catalysis ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Fluorides ,Perturbation theory ,fluorides ,010405 organic chemistry ,business.industry ,Organic Chemistry ,structure elucidation ,General Chemistry ,Copper ,0104 chemical sciences ,Crystal structure prediction ,Semiconductor ,chemistry ,Chemical physics ,copper ,density functional calculations ,Direct and indirect band gaps ,business ,Fluoride - Abstract
Despite numerous experimental studies since 1824, the binary copper(I) fluoride remains unknown. A crystal structure prediction has been carried out for CuF using the USPEX evolutionary algorithm and a dispersion‐corrected hybrid density functional method. In total about 5000 hypothetical structures were investigated. The energetics of the predicted structures were also counter‐checked with local second‐order Møller–Plesset perturbation theory. Herein 39 new hypothetical copper(I) fluoride structures are reported that are lower in energy compared to the previously predicted cinnabar‐type structure. Cuprophilic Cu−Cu interactions are present in all the low‐energy structures, leading to ordered Cu substructures such as helical or zig‐zag‐type Cu−Cu motifs. The lowest‐energy structure adopts a trigonal crystal structure with space group P3121. From an electronic point of view, the predicted CuF modification is a semiconductor with an indirect band gap of 2.3 eV.
- Published
- 2019
48. Nintedanib as Bridge Therapy to Retransplantation for Restrictive Allograft Syndrome: A Case Report
- Author
-
Massimo Maschio, A. Di Mascio, Sergio Ghirardo, and Egidio Barbi
- Subjects
chemistry.chemical_compound ,chemistry ,business.industry ,Medicine ,Nintedanib ,Structural engineering ,business ,Bridge (interpersonal) - Published
- 2019
49. A new parameterization method for data assimilation and uncertainty assessment for complex carbonate reservoir models based on cumulative distribution function
- Author
-
Célio Maschio, Denis José Schiozer, and UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL DE CAMPINAS
- Subjects
Mathematical optimization ,Reservatórios ,History matching ,Computer science ,Data assimilation and uncertainty assessment ,Super-K ,02 engineering and technology ,010502 geochemistry & geophysics ,01 natural sciences ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Data assimilation ,020401 chemical engineering ,Cumulative distribution function ,Artigo original ,0204 chemical engineering ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Geological surveys ,Dynamic data ,Levantamentos geológicos ,Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology ,Permeability (earth sciences) ,Fuel Technology ,chemistry ,Reservoirs ,Carbonate - Abstract
Agradecimentos: This work was conducted with the support of Petrobras (Grant Agreement No. 0050.0100204.16.9) and Energi Simulation within the ANP R&D tax as "commitment to research and development investments". The authors are grateful for the support of the Center of Petroleum Studies (CEPETRO-UNICAMP/Brazil), the Department of Energy (DE-FEM-UNICAMP/Brazil) and Research Group in Reservoir Simulation and Management (UNISIM-UNICAMP/Brazil). In addition, a special thanks to CMG and Schlumberger Information Solutions for software licenses Abstract: Data assimilation (also known as history matching) and uncertainty assessment is the process of conditioning reservoir models to dynamic data to improve its production forecast capacity. One of the main challenges of the process is the representation and updating of spatial properties in a geologically consistent way. The process is even more challenging for complex geological systems such as highly channeling reservoirs, fractured systems and super-K layered reservoirs. Therefore, mainly for highly heterogeneous reservoirs, a proper parameterization scheme is crucial to ensure an effective and consistent process. This paper presents a new approach based on cumulative distribution function (CDF) for parameterization of complex geological models focused on layered reservoir with the presence of high permeability zones (super-K). The main innovative aspect of this work is focused on a new sampling procedure based on a cut-off frequency. The proposed method is simple to implement and, at the same time, very robust. It is able to properly represent super-K distribution along the reservoir during the data assimilation process, obtaining good data matches and reducing the uncertainty in the production forecast. The new method, which preserves the prior characteristics of the model, was tested in a complex carbonate reservoir model (UNISIM-II-H benchmark case) built based on a combination of Brazilian Pre-salt characteristics and Ghawar field information available in the literature. Promising results, which indicate the robustness of the method, are shown Fechado
- Published
- 2019
50. Electrochemical behavior of active surface layers in AA8xxx aluminum alloys
- Author
-
Stefano Maschio, Francesco Andreatta, Lorenzo Fedrizzi, and Alex Lanzutti
- Subjects
Materials science ,Chemical engineering ,chemistry ,Aluminium ,Materials Chemistry ,chemistry.chemical_element ,Surfaces and Interfaces ,General Chemistry ,Active surface ,Condensed Matter Physics ,Electrochemistry ,Surfaces, Coatings and Films ,Corrosion - Published
- 2019
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