98 results on '"Ghinassi B"'
Search Results
2. Nordic walking increases circulating VEGF more than traditional walking training in postmenopause
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Izzicupo, P., primary, D’Amico, M. A., additional, Di Blasio, A., additional, Napolitano, G., additional, Di Baldassarre, A., additional, and Ghinassi, B., additional
- Published
- 2017
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3. HIT Poster session 2P479Strain concordance in a real-world setting: experience in our laboratory after equipment upgradeP4803D echocardiography is a fast-learning and reliable method for the measurements of left atrial volumesP481Echocardiographic parameters associated with long-term appropriate antiarrhythmic therapies in cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator patientsP482Noninvasively measured global wasted myocardial work allows for quantitative assessment of typical left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony pattern in patients with left bundle branch blockP483The impact of adherence to physical exercise on the improvement of cardiovascular remodeling and metabolic status in healthy untrained postmenopausal womenP484The impact of the latest chamber quantification recommendations on the prediction of left atrial appendage thrombus presenceP485The cardiac-enriched miRNAs plasma levels (miR-1, miR-133a, miR-499) reflect the impaired left ventricular systolic function and correlate with cardiac necrosis markers in early phase of NSTE-ACSP486Acute regional myocardial deformation changes in patients with severe aortic stenosis and preserved ejection fraction after isolated aortic valve replacementP487Left ventricular rotational deformation in asymptomatic patients with chronic aortic regurgitation and normal left ventricular ejection fraction P488The appropriate use of transthoracic echocardiography for the exclusion of infective endocarditisP489In patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, left ventricular mass and shape by three-dimensional echocardiography are related with dynamic obstruction and functional capacityP490Mitral leaflet sizing in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: impact of method and timingP491Echocardiographic predictors of atrial fibrillation in obese womenP492Echocardiographic risk factors for 30 day mortality after the hybrid procedure for hypoplastic left heart syndromeP493Left ventricular mass is an independent predictor of coronary flow reserve: insights from a single centre stress echo cohortP494Transesophageal echocardigoraphy uner conscious sedation for guiding cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation - the safety and feasibility studyP495Transesophageal echocardigoraphy under conscious sedation for guiding cryoballoon pulmonary vein isolation in paroxysmal atrial fibrillation - the safety and feasibility studyP496Three-dimensional trans-esophageal echocardiography assessment of the immediate morphological changes of the mitral annulus after percutaneous mitral edge-to-edge repairP497Clinical value of global and regional longitudinal strain in prediction of myocardial ischemia in asymptomatic diabetes type 2 patientsP499Comparison of prognostic operative risk impact on the global longitudinal strain right ventricle (GLS RV) and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) values in patients with ischemic cardioP498Right heart function in early diastolic dysfunction: 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography-based assessment of right atrial and right ventricular functionP500 Comparison of 2D, 3D transesophageal echocardiography and computed tomography during the assessment of left atrial appendage closure
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Cueva Recalde, JF., primary, Velcea, A., primary, Aguiar Rosa, S., primary, Surkova, E., primary, Bucciarelli, V., primary, Kupczynska, K., primary, Miskowiec, D., primary, Reskovic Luksic, V., primary, Verseckaite, R., primary, Jillott, N., primary, Muraru, D., primary, Borizanova, A., primary, Caroli, S., primary, Guerreiro, S., primary, Mahmoud, HM., primary, Peovska Mitevska, I., primary, Babukov, R., primary, Brecht, A., primary, Garcia-Sanchez, MJ., primary, Gayan Ordas, J., additional, Lacambra Blasco, I., additional, Mihaila, S., additional, Andronic, AA., additional, Marcu, S., additional, Vinereanu, D., additional, Galrinho, A., additional, Branco, L., additional, Timoteo, A., additional, Cunha, P., additional, Lousinha, A., additional, Valente, B., additional, Pereira Silva, T., additional, Oliveira, M., additional, Cruz Ferreira, R., additional, Aalen, J., additional, Samset, E., additional, Bidviene, J., additional, Aruta, P., additional, Romeo, G., additional, Sambugaro, F., additional, Badano, LP., additional, Muraru, D., additional, Bianco, F., additional, Di Blasio, A., additional, Izzicupo, P., additional, Ghinassi, B., additional, Napolitano, G., additional, Di Baldassarre, A., additional, Gallina, S., additional, Michalski, B., additional, Miskowiec, D., additional, Kasprzak, JD., additional, Lipiec, P., additional, Kupczynska, K., additional, Simiera, M., additional, Wejner-Mik, P., additional, Wierzbowska-Drabik, K., additional, Ojrzanowski, M., additional, Pasalic, M., additional, Separovic Hanzevacki, J., additional, Mizariene, V., additional, Montvilaite, A., additional, Unikaite, R., additional, Bieseviciene, M., additional, Jurkevicius, R., additional, Wilson, S., additional, Marotta, C., additional, Calore, C., additional, Surkova, E., additional, Palermo, C., additional, Iliceto, S., additional, Kinova, E., additional, Kundurzhiev, T., additional, Goudev, A., additional, Bellsham-Revell, HR., additional, Bell, AJ., additional, Miller, OI., additional, Simpson, JM., additional, Raposo, L., additional, Andrade, MJ., additional, Horta, E., additional, Reis, C., additional, Almeida, M., additional, Mendes, M., additional, Qawoq, HD., additional, Zycinski, P., additional, Wcislo, T., additional, Abdel Raouf, O., additional, Kheir, A., additional, Halawa, S., additional, Al-Ghamdi, M., additional, Ghabashi, A., additional, Srbinovska, E., additional, Antova, E., additional, Bosevski, M., additional, Bazilev, VV., additional, Bartosh, FL., additional, Bathe, M., additional, Oertelt-Prigione, S., additional, Seeland, U., additional, Regitz-Zagrosek, V., additional, Baumann, G., additional, Stangl, K., additional, Stangl, V., additional, Knebel, F., additional, Dreger, H., additional, Barreiro-Perez, M., additional, Arribas-Jimenez, A., additional, Martin-Garcia, A., additional, Diaz-Pelaez, E., additional, Rama-Merchan, JC., additional, Cruz-Gonzalez, I., additional, and Sanchez, PL., additional
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- 2016
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4. Constitutive and stimulated production of VEGF by human megakaryoblastic cell lines. Effect on proliferation and signaling pathway
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BONSI, LAURA, PIERDOMENICO, LAURA, MARCHIONNI, COSETTA, FOSSATI, VALENTINA, ALVIANO, FRANCESCO, FRANCHINA, MICHELE, BAGNARA, GIAN PAOLO, Biscardi M., Gavazzi S., Ghinassi B., Rondelli D., Grossi A., Bonsi L., Pierdomenico L., Biscardi M., Marchionni C., Gavazzi S., Fossati V., Ghinassi B., Alviano F., Rondelli D., Franchina M., Bagnara G.P., and Grossi A.
- Abstract
Release of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and other candidate angiogenic factors such as basic Fibroblast Growth Factor and Transforming Growth Factor β, may play a role in sustaining neoplastic cell proliferation and tumor growth. We evaluated VEGF expression and synthesis in the two erythro-megakaryocytic cell lines B1647, HEL and one megakaryocytic cell line MO7 expressing erythroid markers. In this study RT-PCR was performed to evaluate VEGF expression and that of its receptor KDR; VEGF production was assayed by Elisa test and western blot analysis; sensitivity to VEGF was tested by thymidine incorporation. VEGF and its receptor KDR were expressed in B1647 and HEL, both as mRNAs and as proteins, while only KDR transcript was found in MO7 cells. Only B1647 and HEL cells showed a strong spontaneous proliferating activity. In fact, measurable amounts of VEGF were present in the unstimulated cell medium, thus suggesting an autocrine production of VEGF by B1647 and HEL cells, but not by MO7, which was inhibited in mRNA-silencing conditions. This production could not be further boosted by other growth factors, whereas it was inhibited by TGF-β1. Finally, analysis of Shc signal transduction proteins following stimulation with VEGF indicated that only p46 was tyrosine phosphorylated. These data indicate that leukemic cells may be capable of autocrine production of VEGF which, in turn, maintains cell proliferation, possibly mediated by Shc p46 phosphorylation.
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- 2005
5. Fully differentiated cardiomyocites from human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells
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D'Amico, M.A., primary, Ghinassi, B., additional, Izzicupo, P., additional, Sirabella, D., additional, Mariggiò, M.A., additional, Guarnieri, S., additional, Stuppia, L., additional, and Di Baldassarre, A., additional
- Published
- 2015
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6. HIT Poster session 2P486The effect of short term aerobic exercise and ACE polymorphism on cardiovascular remodeling in healthy sedentary postmenopausal womenP487Are there predictors of malignant progression of aortic stenosis severity?P488Quantitative und semiquantitative parameters in the classification of aortic insufficiency: a 3D-echocardiography and magnet resonance imaging studyP489Vascular indicies surrogate markers for left ventricular dysfunctionP490Left ventricular systolic strain data does not require indexation to cavity size in mitral valve diseasesP491Impact of EACVI grant programme on career progression of grant winnersP492Early predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence after electrical cardioversion: diastolic parameters come firstP493Echocardiographic diagnosis of arrhythmias in the fetusP4943D echocardiography is a fast-learning and a more reliable method compared with 2D echocardiography for the assessment of left ventricular volumes and ejection fraction in patients with heart failureP495Right ventricular mechanics in functional ischemic mitral regurgitation in acute inferior myocardial infarctionP496Added value of two dimentional strain in assessement of left ventricular systolic function in rheumatic mitral stenosis patients with normal ejection fractionP497Left ventricular myocardial deformation in arterial hypertension with different types of glucose metabolism disordersP498Epicardial to pericardial adipose tissue ratio: predicting myocardial ischemia in patients referred for exercise stress echocardiographyP499Echocardiographic evaluation of the patients with asd after percutaneous closureP500Screening for carotid artery stenosis with the use of pocket-size imaging device equipped with linear probeP501LAD correlates poorly with LAVIP502Predictors associated with the diastolic dysfunction formation in patients with moderate hypertensionP503Assessment of left atrial function by speckle tracking analysis in transthoracic echocardiography for predicting the presence of left atrial appendage thrombus in patients with atrial fibrillationP504can echocardiography detect subclinical myocardial damage in the layers of myocardial wall? (The first study in a large population with known inflammatory disease)P505Epicardial fat thickness and galectin 3 in patients with atrial fibrillation and metabolic syndromeP506Left ventricular reverse remodeling in heart failure: a new obesity paradox?P507Epicardial adipose tissue and carotid intima media thickness in hemodialysis patients; single center experienceP508Echocardiographic parameters of mitral valve remodeling associated with poor clinical outcome in high risk patients with functional mitral regurgitation after Mitraclip implantationP509Prevalence of valve disease in a community population over the age of 60P510Discordance between mitral valve area and mean transmitral pressure gradient in mitral stenosis: Is mean gradient marker of the severity or parameter of tolerance in severe mitral stenosis?P511Ischemic mitral regurgitation is associated with impaired radial and circumferential myocardial deformation in acute inferoposterior myocardial infarctionP512The importance of early left atrial functional changes in predicting long term left ventricular remodeling in patients surviving a ST elevation myocardial infarctionP513Remodeling of myocardial deformation after mitral valve surgeryP514Global longitudinal peak systolic strain is reduced shortly after heart transplantationP515Detailed transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic analysis of mitral leaflets in patient undergoing mitral valve repair
- Author
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Bucciarelli, V, primary, Avenatti, E, primary, Rosner, SJ, primary, Cherneva, ZHCH, primary, Li, H, primary, Surkova, E A, primary, Degiovanni, A, primary, Ortiz Garrido, A, primary, Mihaila, S, primary, Tamulenaite, E, primary, Amorouayeche, F Z, primary, Kolesnyk, M Y, primary, Garcia Campos, A, primary, Savcioglu, AS, primary, Filipiak, D, primary, Kuusisto, J K, primary, Torbas, O, primary, Kupczynska, K, primary, Tountas, X, primary, Ionin, VA, primary, Cescau, A, primary, Altin, C, primary, Ferreiro Quero, C, primary, Lowery, C, primary, Najih, H, primary, Valuckiene, Z, primary, Onciul, S, primary, Yang, L-T, primary, Baricevic, Z, primary, Ghulam Ali, S, primary, Bianco, F, additional, Izzicupo, P, additional, Ghinassi, B, additional, Di Baldassarre, A, additional, Gallina, S, additional, Milazzo, V, additional, Milan, A, additional, Patel, A, additional, Kuvin, J, additional, Pandian, N, additional, Orban, M, additional, Nadjiri, J, additional, Lesevic, H, additional, Hadamitzky, M, additional, Sonne, C, additional, Kuneva, ZK, additional, Vasilev, DV, additional, Yuan, L, additional, Xie, MX, additional, Jin, XY, additional, Muraru, D, additional, Grapsa, J, additional, Donal, E, additional, Lancellotti, P, additional, Habib, G, additional, Badano, L P, additional, Buffa, MC, additional, De Vecchi, F, additional, Prenna, E, additional, Boggio, E, additional, Marino, P, additional, De La Chica, J, additional, Cuenca Peiro, V, additional, Picazo Angelin, B, additional, Conejo Munoz, L, additional, Narbona, I, additional, Anderica, JR, additional, De Mora, M, additional, Zabala Arguelles, JI, additional, Velcea, A, additional, Matei, L, additional, Andronic, A, additional, Calin, S, additional, Rimbas, R, additional, Badano, LP, additional, Vinereanu, D, additional, Ovsianas, J, additional, Valuckiene, Z, additional, Jurkevicius, R, additional, Latreche, S, additional, Benkhedda, S, additional, Dzyak, G V, additional, Riznyk, Y Y, additional, Kovalyova, O V, additional, Velasco-Alonso, E, additional, Colunga-Blanco, S, additional, Martin-Fernandez, M, additional, Corros-Vicente, C, additional, Rodriguez-Suarez, ML, additional, Leon-Aguero, V, additional, De La Hera Galarza, JM, additional, Safak, O, additional, Nazli, C, additional, Akyildiz Akcay, F, additional, Yakar Tuluce, S, additional, Kahya Eren, N, additional, Ozdemir, E, additional, Kocabas, U, additional, Kasprzak, JD, additional, Lipiec, P, additional, Jarvinen, VM, additional, Sinisalo, JP, additional, Sirenko, YU, additional, Radchenko, G, additional, Rekovets, O, additional, Kushnir, S, additional, Michalski, BW, additional, Miskowiec, D, additional, Wdowiak-Okrojek, K, additional, Wejner-Mik, P, additional, Beldekos, D, additional, Protogerou, A, additional, Gournizakis, A, additional, Panopoulos, S, additional, Theodosis-Georgilas, A, additional, Fousas, S, additional, Sfikakis, P, additional, Soboleva, AV, additional, Listopad, OV, additional, Nifontov, SE, additional, Polyakova, EA, additional, Belyaeva, OD, additional, Baranova, EI, additional, Shlyachto, EV, additional, Baudet, M, additional, Cohen-Solal, A, additional, Logeart, D, additional, Sakallioglu, O, additional, Aydin, E, additional, Yilmaz, M, additional, Sade, LE, additional, Muderrisoglu, H, additional, Mesa Rubio, M D, additional, Ruiz Ortiz, M, additional, Delgado Ortega, M, additional, Sanchez Fernandez, J, additional, Duran Jimenez, E, additional, Morenate Navio, C, additional, Romero, M, additional, Pan, M, additional, Suarez De Lezo, J, additional, Frenneaux, M P, additional, Parasuraman, S K, additional, Rudd, A E, additional, Srinivasan, J, additional, Elbaghdadi, D, additional, Laarej, A, additional, Allouch, M, additional, Azzouzi, L, additional, Habbal, R, additional, Mizariene, V, additional, Ablonskyte-Dudoniene, R, additional, Cucchini, U, additional, Miglioranza, MH, additional, Dorobantu, M, additional, Iliceto, S, additional, Tsai, WC, additional, Cikes, M, additional, Ljubas Macek, J, additional, Skoric, B, additional, Skorak, I, additional, Jurin, H, additional, Samardzic, J, additional, Gasparovic, H, additional, Milicic, D, additional, Separovic Hanzevacki, J, additional, Fusini, L, additional, Tamborini, G, additional, Gripari, P, additional, Muratori, M, additional, Celeste, F, additional, Carminati, MC, additional, Alamanni, F, additional, and Pepi, M, additional
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- 2015
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7. Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells cardiomyogenic potential: a preliminary study
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D'Amico, M.A., Antonucci, I., Di Fonso, A., Bascelli, A., Ghinassi, B., Izzicupo, P., Stuppia, L., and Di Baldassarre, A.
- Subjects
hAFSCs ,EBs ,cardiomyocitic differentiation - Abstract
The characterization of Amniotic Fluid-derived multipotent Stem Cells (AFSCs) open new paths in stem cell research. hAFSCs have characteristics intermediate between pluripotent embryonic- (ESCs) and lineage-restricted adult stem cells, and are non-tumorigenic and low immunogenic. Moreover, they are obtained without destroying human embryos, so that most of the ethical and social controversy could be prevented. We previously observed that human AFSCs express some genes specific of ESCs and primordial germ cells. We also shown hAFSCs ability to form in vitro three-dimensional aggregates of cells known as embryoid bodies (EBs), that express three germ layer markers. Recent studies reported the ability of hAFSCs to differentiate in vitro into adipocytes and osteocytes. Aim of our study was to analyse the cardiomyogenic potential of hAFSCs. EBs were obtained by modified hanging drops protocol from hAFSCs coltured in presence of ascorbic acid and 5-aza-2’-deoxycytidine (differentiation medium: DM). RT-PCR and Western Blotting analysis conducted on AFSCs and EBs cells evidenced the gene and protein expression of the transcriptor factor Nkx2.5, the earliest marker of heart precursor cells. Immunofluorescence (IF) analysis performed on EBs after 10 days in DM evidenced the cytoplasmic presence of α-myosin heavy chain (α-MHC) organized in parallel, oriented filamets. Microscopical analysis evidenced beating cells mainly at the periphery of the EB. In conclusion, our results evidenced that hAFSCs cultured in permissive conditions give rise to EB able to terminally differentiate in cardiomyocytes., Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology, Vol 117, No 2 (Supplement) 2012
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- 2013
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8. Inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling restores both microenvironmental and stem cells abnormalities in the Gata-1low Mouse Model of Myelofibrosis
- Author
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Sancillo, L., Zingariello, M., Ghinassi, B., Bosco, D., Migliaccio, A.R., and Rana, R.A.
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Myelofibrosis ,megakaryocytes ,TGF-β1 ,hematopoiesis - Abstract
Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is characterized by abnormal megakaryocyte (Mk) development, fibrosis and ineffective hematopoiesis in the marrow and hematopoiesis in extramedullary sites [1]. Studies in animal models have suggested that fibrosis is established by fibroblasts activated by TGF-β1 released by the abnormal Mk. Increased levels of TGF-β1 expression in Mk have been implicated in the development of PMF. To clarify whether TGF-β1 alterations are involved in the development of PMF in Gata1low mice, the TGF-β1 content of Mk from the marrow and spleen from PMF patients and Gata1low mice was compared, the TGF-β1 pathway of the marrow and spleen of the Gata1low mouse PMF model was profiled and the consequences of pharmacological inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling, obtained through treatment with SB431542, was determined. Bone marrow (BM) sections from PMF patients contain 4-times more Mk than those from normal donors and great numbers of Mk are also detectable in their spleen. In addition, Mk from both BM and spleen of PMF patients reacted 34-times more intensely than normal Mk with the TGF-β1 antibody. Similarly the number of Mk in BM and spleen of Gata-1low mice was 2-3- fold greater than normal and these cells reacted 3-8-times more intensely with the TGF-β1 antibody than wild-type(wt)Mk. These results were confirmed by immunoelectron- microscopy. On average, one Mk from wild-type and Gata1low mice contained 10.3±2.2 and 54.3±6.5 immunogold-particles per area (p, Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology, Vol 117, No 2 (Supplement) 2012
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- 2013
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9. Ghrelin and Growth Hormone Secretagogue Receptor localization in human iris and ciliar body
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Di Fonso, A., D’Amico, M.A., Izzicupo, P., Ghinassi, B., Zappacosta, R., Liberatore, M., Gallenga, C.E., Gallenga, P.E., and Di Baldassarre, A.
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Ghrelin ,ciliar body ,iris ,pigmented epithelium ,hormones, hormone substitutes, and hormone antagonists - Abstract
Ghrelin (Ghr) is a 28-amino acid peptide identified as endogenous, acylated ligand for the growth hormone (GH) secretagogue G-protein-coupled receptor (GHSR). Mainly synthesized from X/A like neuroendocrin cells of gastric fundus, Ghr acts directly on the pituitary gland inducing GH release; moreover Ghr regulates food intake resulting tightly associated with obesity. Several studies reported that Ghr is widely expressed in different tissues and, besides its orexigenic activity, effects on cardiovascular, pulmonary, reproductive and central nervous systems have been described. Recently, functional studies on rats and rabbits indicated Ghr as modulator of iris smooth muscles activity since induces relaxation of both sphincter and dilator muscles. Moreover Ghr mRNA has been found in the ciliary epithelium of ciliar body (CB). On the basis of these observations, we purposed to investigate Ghr and GHSR expression in human eye. The immunohistochemical analysis performed on iris and ciliar body specimens from post-traumatic explanted human eyeballs evidenced that Ghr and its receptor were co-expressed from the pigmented epithelium (PE) of both iris and CB, whereas we did not detect immunoreactivity in smooth muscle cells. Since human ciliar epithelium is a major site of production of neuroendocrine peptides found in aqueous humor (AqH), we analyzed AqH for the Ghr presence but the Enzymatic Immunoassay performed on 80 samples gave always negative results. In conclusion, our data suggest that Ghr may activate autocrine/paracrine signalling in human PE of CB and iris; the absence of GHSR- immunoreactivity on iris smooth muscle cells seem to rule out the possibility that Ghr can exert its myo-active effects directly., Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology, Vol 117, No 2 (Supplement) 2012
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- 2013
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10. In vitro differentiation of human totipotent mesenchymal stem cells into osteogenic, condrogenic and steatogenic lineages
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Pierdomenico, L., Calvitti, Mario, Bonsi, L., Ghinassi, B., Marchionni, C., Fossati, V., Alviano, F., Becchetti, Ennio, Staffolani, Nicola, Franchina, M., Rondelli, D., and Bagnara, G.
- Published
- 2003
11. Mesenchymal stem cell isolation, characterization and multinineage differentiation in vitro: comparison of different cell cources
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Pierdomenico, L., Rondelli, D., Locatelli, F., Calvitti, Mario, Bonsi, L., Ghinassi, B., Marchionni, C., Fossati, V., Franchina, M., Becchetti, Ennio, and Bagnara, G. P.
- Published
- 2002
12. Cardiomyogenic potential of human amniotic fluid derived stem cells
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D'Amico, M. A., primary, Izzucupo, P., additional, Antonucci, I., additional, Di Fonso, A., additional, Ghinassi, B., additional, Gallina, S., additional, Stuppia, L., additional, and Di Baldassarre, A., additional
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- 2013
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13. Constitutive and Stimulated Production of Vegf by Human Megakaryoblastic Cell Lines: Effect on Proliferation and Signaling Pathway
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Bonsi, L., primary, Pierdomenico, L., additional, Biscardi, M., additional, Marchionni, C., additional, Gavazzi, S., additional, Fossati, V., additional, Ghinassi, B., additional, Alviano, F., additional, Rondelli, D., additional, Franchina, M., additional, Bagnara, G.P., additional, and Grossi, A., additional
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- 2005
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14. HIT Poster session 2
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Bucciarelli, V, Bianco, F, Izzicupo, P, Ghinassi, B, Di Baldassarre, A, Gallina, S, Avenatti, E, Milazzo, V, Milan, A, Patel, A, Kuvin, J, Pandian, N, Rosner, SJ, Orban, M, Nadjiri, J, Lesevic, H, Hadamitzky, M, Sonne, C, Cherneva, ZHCH, Kuneva, ZK, Vasilev, DV, Li, H, Yuan, L, Xie, MX, Jin, XY, Surkova, E A, Muraru, D, Grapsa, J, Donal, E, Lancellotti, P, Habib, G, Badano, L P, Degiovanni, A, Buffa, MC, De Vecchi, F, Prenna, E, Boggio, E, Marino, P, Ortiz Garrido, A, De La Chica, J, Cuenca Peiro, V, Picazo Angelin, B, Conejo Munoz, L, Narbona, I, Anderica, JR, De Mora, M, Zabala Arguelles, JI, Mihaila, S, Velcea, A, Matei, L, Andronic, A, Calin, S, Rimbas, R, Muraru, D, Badano, LP, Vinereanu, D, Tamulenaite, E, Ovsianas, J, Valuckiene, Z, Jurkevicius, R, Amorouayeche, F Z, Latreche, S, Benkhedda, S, Kolesnyk, M Y, Dzyak, G V, Riznyk, Y Y, Kovalyova, O V, Garcia Campos, A, Velasco-Alonso, E, Colunga-Blanco, S, Martin-Fernandez, M, Corros-Vicente, C, Rodriguez-Suarez, ML, Leon-Aguero, V, De La Hera Galarza, JM, Savcioglu, AS, Safak, O, Nazli, C, Akyildiz Akcay, F, Yakar Tuluce, S, Kahya Eren, N, Ozdemir, E, Kocabas, U, Filipiak, D, Kasprzak, JD, Lipiec, P, Kuusisto, J K, Jarvinen, VM, Sinisalo, JP, Torbas, O, Sirenko, YU, Radchenko, G, Rekovets, O, Kushnir, S, Kupczynska, K, Michalski, BW, Miskowiec, D, Kasprzak, JD, Wdowiak-Okrojek, K, Wejner-Mik, P, Lipiec, P, Tountas, X, Beldekos, D, Protogerou, A, Gournizakis, A, Panopoulos, S, Theodosis-Georgilas, A, Fousas, S, Sfikakis, P, Ionin, VA, Soboleva, AV, Listopad, OV, Nifontov, SE, Polyakova, EA, Belyaeva, OD, Baranova, EI, Shlyachto, EV, Cescau, A, Baudet, M, Cohen-Solal, A, Logeart, D, Altin, C, Sakallioglu, O, Aydin, E, Yilmaz, M, Sade, LE, Muderrisoglu, H, Ferreiro Quero, C, Mesa Rubio, M D, Ruiz Ortiz, M, Delgado Ortega, M, Sanchez Fernandez, J, Duran Jimenez, E, Morenate Navio, C, Romero, M, Pan, M, Suarez De Lezo, J, Lowery, C, Frenneaux, M P, Parasuraman, S K, Rudd, A E, Srinivasan, J, Najih, H, Elbaghdadi, D, Laarej, A, Allouch, M, Azzouzi, L, Habbal, R, Valuckiene, Z, Ovsianas, J, Mizariene, V, Ablonskyte-Dudoniene, R, Jurkevicius, R, Onciul, S, Cucchini, U, Miglioranza, MH, Dorobantu, M, Iliceto, S, Badano, LP, Muraru, D, Yang, L-T, Tsai, WC, Baricevic, Z, Cikes, M, Ljubas Macek, J, Skoric, B, Skorak, I, Jurin, H, Samardzic, J, Gasparovic, H, Milicic, D, Separovic Hanzevacki, J, Ghulam Ali, S, Fusini, L, Tamborini, G, Gripari, P, Muratori, M, Celeste, F, Carminati, MC, Alamanni, F, and Pepi, M
- Abstract
Background: Menopause is associated with worsening of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors that can be counteract by physical exercise. Between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism, the deletion variant (DD) is related to higher levels of circulating angiotensin II. We evaluated the effect of a short term endurance exercise program on CV remodeling, by means of 2-D echocardiography, among healthy, sedentary, postmenopausal women with ACE I/D genotypes. Methods: Fifty-three women (mean age 56 ± 4 years) underwent a 4 months moderate intensity walking training, eliciting an effort equal to 11-12 according the rating of perceived exertion scale (RPE). Partecipants' attendance at physical exercise program was 85.90 ± 10.75%. The ACE genotype was ascertained by polimerase chain reaction (DD in 20; ID in 27) before (T0) and after training (T1), along with laboratory, anthropometric and echocardiographic measurements. Results: We observed in both groups a significant reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, weight and body mass index, along with a significant increase in left ventricular ejection fraction and diastolic function. Only ID group showed a significant decrease in heart rate and relative wall thickness [RWT ± SD] (T0 0.42 ± 0.06 – T1 0.40 ± 0.05, P 0.04), with a significant increase in left ventricular mass index [LVMI, g/m(2.7) ± SD] (T0 44.58 ± 11.28 – T1 47.34 ± 9.94, P 0.004) and in right ventricular systolic function, assessed by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion [TAPSE, mm ± SD] (T0 22.52 ± 0.3 – T1 22.96 ± 0.3, P 0.03). Conclusions: Short term aerobic exercise program ameliorates CV profile in healthy, sedentary, postmenopausal women and is associated with positive left ventricular remodeling in ID patients. Enhanced ACE activity, as in DD genotype, could reduce this phenomenon. Thus, ACE polymorphism could account for the individual cardiac remodeling response to physical exercise and should be considered in order to optimize CV prevention measures.
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- 2015
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15. P585 Fully differentiated cardiomyocites from human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells.
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Ghinassi, B, D'amico, MA, Izzicupo, P, Antonucci, I, Stuppia, L, and Di Baldassarre, A
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MYOCARDIUM physiology , *MUSCLE cells , *AMNIOTIC fluid embolism , *VASCULAR endothelial growth factor receptors , *BIOMARKERS , *IMMUNOFLUORESCENCE - Abstract
Purpose: Human amniotic fluid-derived stem cells (hAFSC) are multipotent stem cells sharing characteristics of both embryonic and adult stem cells. It has been already reported that hAFSC can differentiate toward cardiac lineage though the embryonic body (EB) formation, but the 3D structure and cellular heterogeneity of EB represent an important limitation. Aim of this study was to fully differentiate the hAFSC overcoming the EB limitations.Methods: hAFSC were obtained from normal amniocentesis. Cells cultured in monolayer were exposed sequentially to Ascorbic Acid, 5-Azacytidine, BMP4, ActivinA, VEGF up to 20 days. Differentiation was evaluated monitoring by immunofluorescent and cytometric analyses the expression of CD90, as mesenchymal stem cell marker, and of Nkx2.5, Gata4, sarcomeric α-actinin (αSA), α cardiac myosin heavy chain (αMHC), cardiac T-troponin (TnT)and Connexin43 as cardiac markers. An ImageStream analysis for a simultaneous quantitative and morphological evaluation was also performed.Results: During the differentiation cultures cells underwent a progressive decrease of CD90 accompanied by the induction cardiac markers. After 15 days we evidenced that almost the entire cell population was positive for αMHC, αSA cTnT and Connexin 43 expressions (Table I); moreover, even if the % of Gata4+ and Nkx2.5+ cells did not varied during the culture, a significant increase of Nkx2.5 nuclear translocation (9.1±0.9% vs 18.0±1.8% Nkx2.5 nuclear positive cells in hAFSC and differentiated cells respectively, p<.005, analysis by ImageStream) was detected. Some small beating foci (about 8-10% of the plate) were also observed.Conclusion. We demonstrate that hAFSC can fully differentiate into myocytes giving rise to a homogenous population with cardiac-specific molecular and functional properties.Table 1Cell Positivity (%) and Mean Fluorescence Intensity of hAFSC before and after differentiationhAFSCDifferentiated hAFSCCell Positivity (%)MFICell Positivity (%)MFICD9099.3±0.5141.6±45.24.5±2.5*3.2±2.8*GATA482.5±7.421.9±1.695.7±3.124.3±0.6Nkx2.584.5±6.514.2±4.798.7±0.326.7±6.6αMHC3.7±5.427.9±6.598.7±1.1*155.6±15.6*αSA0.3±1.25.9±9.289.5±5.4*236.0±10.0*cTnT0.1±0.10.8±0.495.4±3.1*66.1±3.5*Connexin 4343.5±8.14.9±1.595.5±4.2*134.4±15.8* [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
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- 2014
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16. The Effects of Physical Activity on the Gut Microbiota and the Gut-Brain Axis in Preclinical and Human Models: A Narrative Review
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Stefania Cataldi, Luca Poli, Fatma Neşe Şahin, Antonino Patti, Luigi Santacroce, Antonino Bianco, Gianpiero Greco, Barbara Ghinassi, Angela Di Baldassarre, Francesco Fischetti, Cataldi S., Poli L., Sahin F.N., Patti A., Santacroce L., Bianco A., Greco G., Ghinassi B., Di Baldassarre A., and Fischetti F.
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Nutrition and Dietetics ,cognitive functions ,microbiome ,Brain ,anxiety ,elderly ,fitness ,Gastrointestinal Microbiome ,overtraining ,athletes ,Mental Health ,depression ,Brain-Gut Axis ,overweight ,Animals ,Humans ,sports ,Exercise ,Food Science - Abstract
Increasing evidence supports the importance of the gut microbiota (GM) in regulating multiple functions related to host physical health and, more recently, through the gut–brain axis (GBA), mental health. Similarly, the literature on the impact of physical activity (PA), including exercise, on GM and GBA is growing. Therefore, this narrative review summarizes and critically appraises the existing literature that delves into the benefits or adverse effects produced by PA on physical and mental health status through modifications of the GM, highlighting differences and similarities between preclinical and human studies. The same exercise in animal models, whether performed voluntarily or forced, has different effects on the GM, just as, in humans, intense endurance exercise can have a negative influence. In humans and animals, only aerobic PA seems able to modify the composition of the GM, whereas cardiovascular fitness appears related to specific microbial taxa or metabolites that promote a state of physical health. The PA favors bacterial strains that can promote physical performance and that can induce beneficial changes in the brain. Currently, it seems useful to prioritize aerobic activities at a moderate and not prolonged intensity. There may be greater benefits if PA is undertaken from a young age and the effects on the GM seem to gradually disappear when the activity is stopped. The PA produces modifications in the GM that can mediate and induce mental health benefits.
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- 2022
17. Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Unveil an Unexpected Differentiation Potential toward the Dopaminergic Neuronal Lineage
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Barbara Ghinassi, Michele Di Mauro, Giulia Gaggi, Angela Di Baldassarre, Andrea Di Credico, Pascal Izzicupo, Francesco Alviano, Gaggi G., Di Credico A., Izzicupo P., Alviano F., Di Mauro M., Di Baldassarre A., Ghinassi B., RS: Carim - V04 Surgical intervention, and CTC
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Parkinson's disease ,transporter trafficking ,mesenchymal fate ,localization ,lcsh:Chemistry ,stem-cells ,generation ,PITX3 ,Induced pluripotent stem cell ,lcsh:QH301-705.5 ,perinatal stem cells ,Spectroscopy ,Dopaminergic neuron ,education.field_of_study ,Dopaminergic ,Cell Differentiation ,General Medicine ,Computer Science Applications ,Cell biology ,KLF4 ,TH ,Stem cell ,hFM-MSCs ,Homeobox protein NANOG ,NURR1 ,EXPRESSION ,Population ,Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ,FATE ,Perinatal stem cell ,Biology ,in-vitro ,METABOLISM ,Catalysis ,Article ,human mesenchymal stromal cells ,Inorganic Chemistry ,Kruppel-Like Factor 4 ,SOX2 ,Humans ,TYROSINE-HYDROXYLASE ,Cell Lineage ,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry ,education ,Molecular Biology ,dopaminergic neurons ,Organic Chemistry ,Mesenchymal stem cell ,Human mesenchymal stromal cell ,Mesenchymal Stem Cells ,DAT ,pluripotency ,HFM-MSC ,lcsh:Biology (General) ,lcsh:QD1-999 ,Parkinson’s disease - Abstract
Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons represents the cause of many neurodegenerative diseases, with increasing incidence worldwide. The replacement of dead cells with new healthy ones may represent an appealing therapeutic approach to these pathologies, but currently, only pluripotent stem cells can generate dopaminergic neurons with high efficiency. However, with the use of these cells arises safety and/or ethical issues. Human mesenchymal stromal cells (hFM-MSCs) are perinatal stem cells that can be easily isolated from the amniochorionic membrane after delivery. Generally considered multipotent, their real differentiative potential is not completely elucidated. The aim of this study was to analyze their stemness characteristics and to evaluate whether they may overcome their mesenchymal fate, generating dopaminergic neurons. We demonstrated that hFM-MSCs expressed embryonal genes OCT4, NANOG, SOX2, KLF4, OVOL1, and ESG1, suggesting they have some features of pluripotency. Moreover, hFM-MSCs that underwent a dopaminergic differentiation protocol gradually increased the transcription of dopaminergic markers LMX1b, NURR1, PITX3, and DAT. We finally obtained a homogeneous population of cells resembling the morphology of primary midbrain dopaminergic neurons that expressed the functional dopaminergic markers TH, DAT, and Nurr1. In conclusion, our results suggested that hFM-MSCs retain the expression of pluripotency genes and are able to differentiate not only into mesodermal cells, but also into neuroectodermal dopaminergic neuron-like cells.
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- 2020
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18. Epigenetic Features of Human Perinatal Stem Cells Redefine Their Stemness Potential
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Clara Crescioli, Francesco Alviano, Giulia Gaggi, Annalisa Di Ruscio, Angela Di Baldassarre, Andrea Di Credico, Pascal Izzicupo, Barbara Ghinassi, Giovanni Amabile, Ivana Antonucci, Viviana di Giacomo, Gaggi G., Di Credico A., Izzicupo P., Antonucci I., Crescioli C., Di Giacomo V., Di Ruscio A., Amabile G., Alviano F., Di Baldassarre A., and Ghinassi B.
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Homeobox protein NANOG ,Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells ,education ,SOX2 ,Biology ,OCT4 ,amniotic epithelial cell ,amniotic fluid stem cell ,Article ,Epigenesis, Genetic ,amniotic fluid stem cells ,fetal membrane mesenchymal stromal cell ,telomere length ,perinatal stem cell ,Chromosomes, Human ,Humans ,Epigenetics ,Promoter Regions, Genetic ,lcsh:QH301-705.5 ,perinatal stem cells ,DNA methylation ,integumentary system ,Stem Cells ,Mesenchymal stem cell ,fungi ,Infant, Newborn ,Telomere Homeostasis ,food and beverages ,General Medicine ,amniotic epithelial cells ,Telomere ,Cell biology ,MicroRNAs ,NANOG ,lcsh:Biology (General) ,Gene Expression Regulation ,miRNAs expression ,Amniotic epithelial cells ,embryonic structures ,fetal membrane mesenchymal stromal cells ,Stem cell - Abstract
Human perinatal stem cells (SCs) can be isolated from fetal annexes without ethical or safety limitations. They are generally considered multipotent, nevertheless, their biological characteristics are still not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the pluripotency potential of human perinatal SCs as compared to human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Despite the low expression of the pluripotent factors NANOG, OCT4, SOX2, and C-KIT in perinatal SC, we observed minor differences in the promoters DNA-methylation profile of these genes with respect to hiPSCs, we also demonstrated that in perinatal SCs miR-145-5p had an inverse trend in comparison to these stemness markers, suggesting that NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2 were regulated at the post-transcriptional level. The reduced expression of stemness markers was also associated with shorter telomere lengths and shift of the oxidative metabolism between hiPSCs and fetal annex-derived cells. Our findings indicate the differentiation ability of perinatal SCs might not be restricted to the mesenchymal lineage due to an epigenetic barrier, but other regulatory mechanisms such as telomere shortening or metabolic changes might impair their differentiation potential and challenge their clinical application.
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- 2020
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19. Characterization of the TGF-β1 signaling abnormalities in the Gata1low mouse model of myelofibrosis
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Laura Sancillo, Rosa Alba Rana, Francesca Masiello, Fabrizio Martelli, Giovanni Barosi, Maria Zingariello, Judith D. Goldberg, Xiaochun Li, Fiorella Ciaffoni, Margherita Massa, Anna Rita Migliaccio, Barbara Ghinassi, Emanuela D'Amore, Zingariello, M, Martelli, F, Ciaffoni, F, Masiello, F, Ghinassi, B, D'Amore, E, Massa, M, Barosi, G, Sancillo, L, Li, X, Goldberg, Jd, Rana, Ra, and Franco Migliaccio, Anna Rita
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Adult ,Male ,Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ,Hematopoiesis and Stem Cells ,Blotting, Western ,Immunology ,Spleen ,Biology ,Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ,Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is characterized by fibrosis, ineffective hematopoiesis in marrow, and hematopoiesis in extramedullary sites and is associated with abnormal megakaryocyte (MK) development and increased transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 release. To clarify the role of TGF-β1 in the pathogenesis of this disease, the TGF-β1 signaling pathway of marrow and spleen of the Gata1(low) mouse model of myelofibrosis (MF) was profiled and the consequences of inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling on disease manifestations determined. The expression of 20 genes in marrow and 36 genes in spleen of Gata1(low) mice was altered. David-pathway analyses identified alterations of TGF-β1, Hedgehog, and p53 signaling in marrow and spleen and of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in spleen only and predicted that these alterations would induce consequences consistent with the Gata1(low) phenotype (increased apoptosis and G1 arrest both in marrow and spleen and increased osteoblast differentiation and reduced ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis in marrow only). Inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling normalized the expression of p53-related genes, restoring hematopoiesis and MK development and reducing fibrosis, neovascularization, and osteogenesis in marrow. It also normalized p53/mTOR/Hedgehog-related genes in spleen, reducing extramedullary hematopoiesis. These data identify altered expression signatures of TGF-β1 signaling that may be responsible for MF in Gata1(low) mice and may represent additional targets for therapeutic intervention in PMF ,Biochemistry ,Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ,Mice ,Bone Marrow ,Fibrosis ,Biomarkers, Tumor ,medicine ,Animals ,Humans ,GATA1 Transcription Factor ,RNA, Messenger ,RNA, Small Interfering ,Myelofibrosis ,PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway ,Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis ,Ineffective Hematopoiesis ,Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ,Gene Expression Profiling ,TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases ,Cell Biology ,Hematology ,Middle Aged ,Flow Cytometry ,medicine.disease ,Chemokine CXCL12 ,Extramedullary hematopoiesis ,Disease Models, Animal ,Haematopoiesis ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Primary Myelofibrosis ,Case-Control Studies ,Cancer research ,Cytokines ,Bone marrow ,Signal Transduction - Abstract
Primary myelofibrosis (PMF) is characterized by fibrosis, ineffective hematopoiesis in marrow, and hematopoiesis in extramedullary sites and is associated with abnormal megakaryocyte (MK) development and increased transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 release. To clarify the role of TGF-β1 in the pathogenesis of this disease, the TGF-β1 signaling pathway of marrow and spleen of the Gata1(low) mouse model of myelofibrosis (MF) was profiled and the consequences of inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling on disease manifestations determined. The expression of 20 genes in marrow and 36 genes in spleen of Gata1(low) mice was altered. David-pathway analyses identified alterations of TGF-β1, Hedgehog, and p53 signaling in marrow and spleen and of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in spleen only and predicted that these alterations would induce consequences consistent with the Gata1(low) phenotype (increased apoptosis and G1 arrest both in marrow and spleen and increased osteoblast differentiation and reduced ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis in marrow only). Inhibition of TGF-β1 signaling normalized the expression of p53-related genes, restoring hematopoiesis and MK development and reducing fibrosis, neovascularization, and osteogenesis in marrow. It also normalized p53/mTOR/Hedgehog-related genes in spleen, reducing extramedullary hematopoiesis. These data identify altered expression signatures of TGF-β1 signaling that may be responsible for MF in Gata1(low) mice and may represent additional targets for therapeutic intervention in PMF.
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- 2013
20. The Expression of the Glucocorticoid Receptor in Human Erythroblasts is Uniquely Regulated by KIT Ligand: Implications for Stress Erythropoiesis
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Peter Besmer, Valentina Tirelli, Barbara Ghinassi, Elena Masselli, Nayanendu Saha, Lilian Varricchio, Anna Rita Migliaccio, Varricchio, L, Tirelli, V, Masselli, E, Ghinassi, B, Saha, N, Besmer, P, and Anna Rita Franco Migliaccio
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MAPK/ERK pathway ,Erythroblasts ,Stem cell factor ,Biology ,glucocorticoid receptor erythroblasts KIT ligand erythropoiesis ,Mice ,Receptors, Glucocorticoid ,Glucocorticoid receptor ,Original Research Reports ,Downregulation and upregulation ,Stress, Physiological ,Animals ,Humans ,Protein Isoforms ,Erythropoiesis ,Phosphorylation ,Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases ,Receptor ,Cells, Cultured ,STAT5 ,Cell Proliferation ,Stem Cell Factor ,Cell Biology ,Hematology ,Molecular biology ,Peptide Fragments ,Haematopoiesis ,Gene Expression Regulation ,biology.protein ,Megakaryocytes ,Protein Processing, Post-Translational ,Developmental Biology - Abstract
Studies in mice indicated that activation of the erythroid stress pathway requires the presence of both soluble KIT ligand (KITL) and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). To clarify the relative role of KITL and GR in stress erythropoiesis in humans, the biological activities of soluble full length- (fl-, 26-190 aa), carboxy-terminus truncated (tr-, 26-162 aa) human (hKITL) and murine (mKITL) KITL in cultures of cord blood (CB) mononuclear cells (MNCs) and CD34(pos) cells that mimic either steady state (growth factors alone) or stress (growth factors plus dexamethasone [DXM]) erythropoeisis were investigated. In steady state cultures, the KITLs investigated were equally potent in sustaining growth of hematopoietic colonies and expansion of megakaryocytes (MK) and erythroid precursors (EBs). By contrast, under stress erythropoiesis conditions, fl-hKITL generated greater numbers of EBs (fold increase [FI]=140) than tr-hKITL or mKITL (FI=20-40). Flow cytometric analyses indicated that only EBs generated with fl-hKITL remained immature (>70% CD36(pos)/CD235a(neg/low)), and therefore capable to proliferate, until day 8-12 in response to DXM. Signaling studies indicated that all KITLs investigated induced EBs to phosphorylate signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) but that extracellular-signaling-regulated-kinases (ERK) activation was observed mainly in the presence of fl-hKITL. EBs exposed to fl-hKITL also expressed higher levels of GRα than those exposed to mKITL (and tr-hKITL) which were reduced upon exposure to the ERK inhibitor U0126. These data reveal a unique requirement for fl-hKITL in the upregulation of GRα and optimal EB expansion in cultures that mimic stress erythropoiesis.
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- 2012
21. The dominant negative β isoform of the glucocorticoid receptor is uniquely expressed in erythroid cells expanded from polycythemia vera patients
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James Godbold, Barbara Ghinassi, Elena Alfani, Elena Masselli, Anna Rita Migliaccio, Ronald Hoffman, Alessandro M. Vannucchi, Carolyn Whitsett, Wenyong Zhang, Angela Battistini, Lilian Varricchio, Damiano Rondelli, Giovanni Migliaccio, Varricchio, L, Masselli, E, Alfani, E, Battistini, A, Migliaccio, G, Vannucchi, Am, Zhang, W, Rondelli, D, Godbold, J, Ghinassi, B, Whitsett, C, Hoffman, R, and Franco Migliaccio, Anna Rita
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medicine.medical_specialty ,Molecular Sequence Data ,Immunology ,Cell Culture Techniques ,Gene Expression ,Polycythemia ,Models, Biological ,Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ,Biochemistry ,Dexamethasone ,Receptors, Glucocorticoid ,Glucocorticoid receptor ,Polycythemia vera ,Erythroid Cells ,Internal medicine ,medicine ,Humans ,Protein Isoforms ,Myelofibrosis ,Receptor ,Glucocorticoids ,Polycythemia Vera ,β isoform glucocorticoid receptorerythroid polycythemia vera ,Cells, Cultured ,Cell Proliferation ,Genes, Dominant ,Myeloid Neoplasia ,Janus kinase 2 ,Base Sequence ,biology ,Cell Biology ,Hematology ,Janus Kinase 2 ,medicine.disease ,Endocrinology ,Erythropoietin ,Cell culture ,biology.protein ,Erythropoiesis ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) agonists increase erythropoiesis in vivo and in vitro. To clarify the effect of the dominant negative GRβ isoform (unable to bind STAT-5) on erythropoiesis, erythroblast (EB) expansion cultures of mononuclear cells from 18 healthy (nondiseased) donors (NDs) and 16 patients with polycythemia vera (PV) were studied. GRβ was expressed in all PV EBs but only in EBs from 1 ND. The A3669G polymorphism, which stabilizes GRβ mRNA, had greater frequency in PV (55%; n = 22; P = .0028) and myelofibrosis (35%; n = 20) patients than in NDs (9%; n = 22) or patients with essential thrombocythemia (6%; n = 15). Dexamethasone stimulation of ND cultures increased the number of immature EBs characterized by low GATA1 and β-globin expression, but PV cultures generated great numbers of immature EBs with low levels of GATA1 and β-globin irrespective of dexamethasone stimulation. In ND EBs, STAT-5 was not phosphorylated after dexamethasone and erythropoietin treatment and did not form transcriptionally active complexes with GRα, whereas in PV EBs, STAT-5 was constitutively phosphorylated, but the formation of GR/STAT-5 complexes was prevented by expression of GRβ. These data indicate that GRβ expression and the presence of A3669G likely contribute to development of erythrocytosis in PV and provide a potential target for identification of novel therapeutic agents.
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- 2011
22. Recovery and Biodistribution of Ex Vivo Expanded Human Erythroblasts Injected into NOD/SCID/IL2Rγnull mice
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Anna Rita Migliaccio, Valentina Tirelli, Carolyn Whitsett, Leda Ferro, Stefan S. Kachala, Michel Sadelain, Massimo Sanchez, Isabelle Riviere, Francesca Masiello, Barbara Ghinassi, Giovanni Migliaccio, Ghinassi, B, Ferro, L, Masiello, F, Tirelli, V, Sanchez, M, Migliaccio, G, Whitsett, C, Kachala, S, Riviere, I, Sadelain, M, and FRANCO MIGLIACCIO, ANNA RITA
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lcsh:Internal medicine ,Recovery Biodistribution Expanded Erythroblasts NOD/SCID/IL2Rγ ,Article Subject ,business.industry ,Phagocytosis ,Spleen ,Cell Biology ,Nod ,Molecular biology ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,In vivo ,Cord blood ,Immunology ,Medicine ,Bioluminescence imaging ,lcsh:RC31-1245 ,business ,Receptor ,Molecular Biology ,Ex vivo ,Research Article - Abstract
Ex vivoexpanded erythroblasts (EBs) may serve as advanced transfusion products provided that lodgment occurs in the macrophage-niche of the marrow permitting maturation. EBs expanded from adult and cord blood expressed the receptors (CXCR4, VLA-4, and P-selectin ligand 1) necessary for interaction with macrophages. However, 4-days following transfusion to intact NOD/SCID/IL2Rγnullmice,CD235aposEBs were observed insideCD235anegsplenic cells suggesting that they underwent phagocytosis. When splenectomized and intact NOD/SCID/IL2Rγnullmice were transfused using retrovirally labeled human EBs, human cells were visualized by bioluminescence imaging only in splenectomized animals. Four days after injection, humanCD235aposcells were detected in marrow and liver of splenectomized mice but only in spleen of controls. HumanCD235aposerythrocytes in blood remained low in all cases. These studies establish splenectomized NOD/SCID/IL2Rγnullmice as a suitable model for tracking and quantification of human EBsin vivo.
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- 2011
23. CXCR4-independent rescue of the myeloproliferative defect of the Gata1low myelofibrosis mouse model by Aplidin
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Alessandro Pancrazzi, Maria Zingariello, Jose Jimeno, Miguel Aracil, Emanuela D'Amore, Fabrizio Martelli, Maria Verrucci, Anna Rita Migliaccio, Alessandro M. Vannucchi, Paola Guglielmelli, Barbara Ghinassi, Verrucci, M, Pancrazzi, A, Aracil, M, Martelli, F, Guglielmelli, P, Zingariello, M, Ghinassi, B, D'Amore, E, Jimeno, J, Vannucchi, Am, and FRANCO MIGLIACCIO, ANNA RITA
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Male ,Receptors, CXCR4 ,CXCR4-independent myeloproliferative Gata1low myelofibrosis ,Physiology ,Clinical Biochemistry ,Antineoplastic Agents ,Bone Marrow Cells ,Biology ,Peptides, Cyclic ,Drug Administration Schedule ,Article ,Mice ,Age Distribution ,Depsipeptides ,Weight Loss ,medicine ,Animals ,GATA1 Transcription Factor ,Progenitor cell ,Myelofibrosis ,Bone growth ,Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ,Stem Cells ,GATA1 ,Cell Biology ,medicine.disease ,Extramedullary hematopoiesis ,Haematopoiesis ,Gene Expression Regulation ,Primary Myelofibrosis ,Immunology ,Cancer cell ,Mutation ,Cancer research ,Stem cell ,Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p27 - Abstract
The discovery of JAK2 mutations in Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms has prompted investigators to evaluate mutation-targeted treatments to restore hematopoietic cell functions in these diseases. However, the results of the first clinical trials with JAK2 inhibitors are not as promising as expected, prompting a search for additional drugable targets to treat these disorders. In this paper, we used the hypomorphic Gata1(low) mouse model of primary myelofibrosis (PMF), the most severe of these neoplasms, to test the hypothesis that defective marrow hemopoiesis and development of extramedullary hematopoiesis in myelofibrosis is due to insufficient p27(Kip1) activity and is treatable by Aplidin, a cyclic depsipeptide that activates p27(Kip1) in several cancer cells. Aplidin restored expression of Gata1 and p27(Kip1) in Gata1(low) hematopoietic cells, proliferation of marrow progenitor cells in vitro and maturation of megakaryocytes in vivo (reducing TGF-beta/VEGF levels released in the microenvironment by immature Gata1(low) megakaryocytes). Microvessel density, fibrosis, bone growth, and marrow cellularity were normal in Aplidin-treated mice and extramedullary hematopoiesis did not develop in liver although CXCR4 expression in Gata1(low) progenitor cells remained low. These results indicate that Aplidin effectively alters the natural history of myelofibrosis in Gata1(low) mice and suggest this drug as candidate for clinical evaluation in PMF.
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- 2010
24. Evidence for organ-specific stem cell microenvironments
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Anna Rita Migliaccio, Fabrizio Martelli, Ronald Hoffman, Emanuela D'Amore, Alessandro M. Vannucchi, Maria Verrucci, Barbara Ghinassi, Giovanni Migliaccio, Ghinassi, B, Martelli, F, Verrucci, M, D'Amore, E, Migliaccio, G, Vannucchi, Am, Hoffman, R, and Franco Migliaccio, A. R.
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Male ,Physiology ,Liver cytology ,Clinical Biochemistry ,Spleen ,Bone Marrow Cells ,Biology ,Environment ,Article ,Mice ,Bone Marrow ,medicine ,Animals ,Progenitor cell ,Myelofibrosis ,Cell Proliferation ,Myeloproliferative Disorders ,Stem Cells ,organ-specific stem cell microenvironments ,Cell Biology ,medicine.disease ,Hematopoietic Stem Cells ,Molecular biology ,Extramedullary hematopoiesis ,Haematopoiesis ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Liver ,Hematopoiesis, Extramedullary ,Immunology ,Splenectomy ,Cytokines ,Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ,Female ,Bone marrow ,Stem cell ,Extracellular Space - Abstract
The X-linked Gata1(low) mutation in mice induces strain-restricted myeloproliferative disorders characterized by extramedullary hematopoiesis in spleen (CD1 and DBA/2) and liver (CD1 only). To assess the role of the microenvironment in establishing this myeloproliferative trait, progenitor cell compartments of spleen and marrow from wild-type and Gata1(low) mice were compared. Phenotype and clonal assay of non-fractionated cells indicated that Gata1(low) mice contain progenitor cell numbers 4-fold lower and 10-fold higher than normal in marrow and spleen, respectively. However, progenitor cells prospectively isolated from spleen, but not from marrow, of Gata1(low) mice expressed colony-forming function in vitro. Therefore, calculation of cloning activity of purified cells demonstrated that the total number of Gata1(low) progenitor cells was 10- to 100-fold lower than normal in marrow and >1,000 times higher than normal in spleen. This observation indicates that Gata1(low) hematopoiesis is favored by the spleen and is in agreement with our previous report that removal of this organ induces wild-type hematopoiesis in heterozygous Gata1(low/+) females (Migliaccio et al., 2009, Blood 114:2107). To clarify if rescue of wild-type hematopoiesis by splenectomy prevented extramedullary hematopoiesis in liver, marrow cytokine expression profile and liver histopathology of splenectomized Gata1(low/+) females were investigated. After splenectomy, the marrow expression levels of TGF-beta, VEGF, osteocalcin, PDGF-alpha, and SDF-1 remained abnormally high while Gata1(low) hematopoiesis was detectable in liver of both CD1 and DBA/2 mutants. Therefore, in the absence of the spleen, Gata1(low) hematopoiesis is supported by the liver suggesting that treatment of myelofibrosis in these animals requires the rescue of both stem cell and microenvironmental functions.
- Published
- 2010
25. Predicting Sleep Quality through Biofeedback: A Machine Learning Approach Using Heart Rate Variability and Skin Temperature.
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Di Credico A, Perpetuini D, Izzicupo P, Gaggi G, Mammarella N, Di Domenico A, Palumbo R, La Malva P, Cardone D, Merla A, Ghinassi B, and Di Baldassarre A
- Abstract
Sleep quality (SQ) is a crucial aspect of overall health. Poor sleep quality may cause cognitive impairment, mood disturbances, and an increased risk of chronic diseases. Therefore, assessing sleep quality helps identify individuals at risk and develop effective interventions. SQ has been demonstrated to affect heart rate variability (HRV) and skin temperature even during wakefulness. In this perspective, using wearables and contactless technologies to continuously monitor HR and skin temperature is highly suited for assessing objective SQ. However, studies modeling the relationship linking HRV and skin temperature metrics evaluated during wakefulness to predict SQ are lacking. This study aims to develop machine learning models based on HRV and skin temperature that estimate SQ as assessed by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). HRV was measured with a wearable sensor, and facial skin temperature was measured by infrared thermal imaging. Classification models based on unimodal and multimodal HRV and skin temperature were developed. A Support Vector Machine applied to multimodal HRV and skin temperature delivered the best classification accuracy, 83.4%. This study can pave the way for the employment of wearable and contactless technologies to monitor SQ for ergonomic applications. The proposed method significantly advances the field by achieving a higher classification accuracy than existing state-of-the-art methods. Our multimodal approach leverages the synergistic effects of HRV and skin temperature metrics, thus providing a more comprehensive assessment of SQ. Quantitative performance indicators, such as the 83.4% classification accuracy, underscore the robustness and potential of our method in accurately predicting sleep quality using non-intrusive measurements taken during wakefulness.
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- 2024
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26. Unraveling the Epigenetic Landscape: Insights into Parkinson's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, and Multiple Sclerosis.
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Di Martino P, Marcozzi V, Bibbò S, Ghinassi B, Di Baldassarre A, Gaggi G, and Di Credico A
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Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are examples of neurodegenerative movement disorders (NMDs), which are defined by a gradual loss of motor function that is frequently accompanied by cognitive decline. Although genetic abnormalities have long been acknowledged as significant factors, new research indicates that epigenetic alterations are crucial for the initiation and development of disease. This review delves into the complex interactions that exist between the pathophysiology of NMDs and epigenetic mechanisms such DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNAs. Here, we examine how these epigenetic changes could affect protein aggregation, neuroinflammation, and gene expression patterns, thereby influencing the viability and functionality of neurons. Through the clarification of the epigenetic terrain underpinning neurodegenerative movement disorders, this review seeks to enhance comprehension of the underlying mechanisms of the illness and augment the creation of innovative therapeutic strategies.
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- 2024
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27. Machine learning identifies phenotypic profile alterations of human dopaminergic neurons exposed to bisphenols and perfluoroalkyls.
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Di Credico A, Weiss A, Corsini M, Gaggi G, Ghinassi B, Wilbertz JH, and Di Baldassarre A
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- Animals, Humans, Dopaminergic Neurons metabolism, Machine Learning, Neurodegenerative Diseases metabolism, Parkinson Disease metabolism, Fluorocarbons pharmacology
- Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease and is characterized by the loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are active substances that interfere with hormonal signaling. Among EDCs, bisphenols (BPs) and perfluoroalkyls (PFs) are chemicals leached from plastics and other household products, and humans are unavoidably exposed to these xenobiotics. Data from animal studies suggest that EDCs exposure may play a role in PD, but data about the effect of BPs and PFs on human models of the nervous system are lacking. Previous studies demonstrated that machine learning (ML) applied to microscopy data can classify different cell phenotypes based on image features. In this study, the effect of BPs and PFs at different concentrations within the real-life exposure range (0.01, 0.1, 1, and 2 µM) on the phenotypic profile of human stem cell-derived midbrain dopaminergic neurons (mDANs) was analyzed. Cells exposed for 72 h to the xenobiotics were stained with neuronal markers and evaluated using high content microscopy yielding 126 different phenotypic features. Three different ML models (LDA, XGBoost and LightGBM) were trained to classify EDC-treated versus control mDANs. EDC treated mDANs were identified with high accuracies (0.88-0.96). Assessment of the phenotypic feature contribution to the classification showed that EDCs induced a significant increase of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) staining intensity within the neurons. Moreover, microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2) neurite length and branching were significantly diminished in treated neurons. Our study shows that human mDANs are adversely impacted by exposure to EDCs, causing their phenotype to shift and exhibit more characteristics of PD. Importantly, ML-supported high-content imaging can identify concrete but subtle subcellular phenotypic changes that can be easily overlooked by visual inspection alone and that define EDCs effects in mDANs, thus enabling further pathological characterization in the future., (© 2023. The Author(s).)
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- 2023
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28. Bisphenols and perfluoroalkyls alter human stem cells integrity: A possible link with infertility.
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Gaggi G, Di Credico A, Barbagallo F, Ghinassi B, and Di Baldassarre A
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- Humans, Female, Pregnancy, Epigenesis, Genetic, Placenta, Fertility, Benzhydryl Compounds toxicity, Benzhydryl Compounds chemistry, Infertility, Fluorocarbons toxicity, Endocrine Disruptors toxicity
- Abstract
Bisphenols and Perfluoroalkyls are chemical compounds widely used in industry known to be endocrine disruptors (EDs). Once ingested through contaminated aliments, they mimic the activity of endogenous hormones leading to a broad spectrum of diseases. Due to the extensive use of plastic in human life, particular attention should be paid to antenatal exposure to Bisphenols and Perfluoroalkyls since they cross the placental barrier and accumulates in developing embryo. Here we investigated the effects of Bisphenol-A (BPA), Bisphenol-S (BPS), perfluorooctane-sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic-acid (PFOA), alone or combined, on human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) that share several biological features with the stem cells of blastocysts. Our data show that these EDs affect hiPSC inducing a great mitotoxicity and dramatic changes in genes involved in the maintenance of pluripotency, germline specification, and epigenetic regulation. We also evidenced that these chemicals, when combined, may have additive, synergistic but also negative effects. All these data suggest that antenatal exposure to these EDs may affect the integrity of stem cells in the developing embryos, interfering with critical stages of early human development that might be determinant for fertility. The observation that the effects of exposure to a combination of these chemicals are not easily foreseeable further highlights the need for wider awareness of the complexity of the EDs effects on human health and of the social and economic burden attributable to these compounds., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: Angela Di Baldassarre reports financial support was provided by Government of Italy Ministry of Education University and Research. Giulia Gaggi reports financial support was provided by European Union., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
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- 2023
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29. The Effects of Combined Exposure to Bisphenols and Perfluoroalkyls on Human Perinatal Stem Cells and the Potential Implications for Health Outcomes.
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Di Credico A, Gaggi G, Bucci I, Ghinassi B, and Di Baldassarre A
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- Infant, Newborn, Pregnancy, Humans, Female, Placenta metabolism, Epigenesis, Genetic, Amniotic Fluid metabolism, Benzhydryl Compounds toxicity, Benzhydryl Compounds metabolism, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Mesenchymal Stem Cells metabolism, Endocrine Disruptors pharmacology, Fluorocarbons toxicity, Fluorocarbons metabolism
- Abstract
The present study investigates the impact of two endocrine disruptors, namely Bisphenols (BPs) and Perfluoroalkyls (PFs), on human stem cells. These chemicals leach from plastic, and when ingested through contaminated food and water, they interfere with endogenous hormone signaling, causing various diseases. While the ability of BPs and PFs to cross the placental barrier and accumulate in fetal serum has been documented, the exact consequences for human development require further elucidation. The present research work explored the effects of combined exposure to BPs (BPA or BPS) and PFs (PFOS and PFOA) on human placenta (fetal membrane mesenchymal stromal cells, hFM-MSCs) and amniotic fluid (hAFSCs)-derived stem cells. The effects of the xenobiotics were assessed by analyzing cell proliferation, mitochondrial functionality, and the expression of genes involved in pluripotency and epigenetic regulation, which are crucial for early human development. Our findings demonstrate that antenatal exposure to BPs and/or PFs may alter the biological characteristics of perinatal stem cells and fetal epigenome, with potential implications for health outcomes at birth and in adulthood. Further research is necessary to comprehend the full extent of these effects and their long-term consequences.
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- 2023
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30. Impact on peri-implant connective tissue of laser treated versus traditional healing abutments: a human clinical trials.
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Gaggi G, Di Credico A, D'Addazio G, Ghinassi B, Argentieri G, Caputi S, Di Baldassarre A, and Sinjari B
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- Humans, Tenascin, Collagen, Connective Tissue, Lasers, Fibrillins, Matrix Metalloproteinases, Titanium, Dental Implants adverse effects, Peri-Implantitis
- Abstract
Background: Dental implant is the principal treatment for edentulism and the healthiness of the peri-implant tissue has a pivotal role for its longterm success. In addition, it has been shown that also the topography of the healing abutment can influence the outcome of the restoration. The objective of this human clinical trial was to assess the impact of a novel laser-treated healing abutment on peri-implant connective tissue and extracellular matrix proteins compared to the conventional machined surface, which served as the control group., Methods: During second surgical stage a customized healing abutment were inserted on 30 single dental implants. Healing abutments were realized with two alternated different surface (two side laser-treated surfaces and two side machined surfaces) in order to be considered both as test and control on the same implant and reduce positioning bias. Following the soft tissue healing period (30 ± 7 days) a 5 mm circular biopsy was retrieved. Immuno-histochemical and quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analyses were performed on Collagen, Tenascin C, Fibrillin I, Metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitor (TIMPs). 15 were processed for qPCR, while the other 15 were processed for immunohistochemical analysis. Paired t-test between the two groups were performed. A value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: Results revealed that the connective tissue facing the laser-treated surface expressed statistically significant lower amount of MMPs (p < 0.05) and higher level of TIMPs 3 (p < 0.05), compared to the tissue surrounding the machined implant, which, in turn expressed also altered level of extracellular matrix protein (Tenascin C, Fibrillin I (p < 0.05)) and Collagen V, that are known to be altered also in peri-implantitis., Conclusions: In conclusion, the laser-treated surface holds promise in positively influencing wound healing of peri-implant connective tissue. Results demonstrated that topographic nature of the healing abutments can positively influence mucosal wound healing and molecular expression. Previous studies have been demonstrated how laser treatment can rightly influence integrity and functionality of the gingiva epithelium and cell adhesion. Regarding connective tissue different molecular expression demonstrated a different inflammatory pattern between laser treated or machined surfaces where laser treated showed better response. Targeted interventions and preventive measures on peri- implant topography could effectively minimize the risk of peri-implant diseases contributing to the long-term success and durability of restoration. However, new studies are mandatory to better understand this phenomenon and the role of this surface in the peri-implantitis process. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: (Registration Number: NCT05754970 ). Registered 06/03/2023, retrospectively registered., (© 2023. The Author(s).)
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- 2023
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31. Betaine Treatment Prevents TNF-α-Mediated Muscle Atrophy by Restoring Total Protein Synthesis Rate and Morphology in Cultured Myotubes.
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Di Credico A, Gaggi G, Izzicupo P, Vitucci D, Buono P, Di Baldassarre A, and Ghinassi B
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- Humans, Cell Line, Cytokines, Inflammation pathology, Muscle Fibers, Skeletal metabolism, Muscle, Skeletal metabolism, Betaine pharmacology, Muscular Atrophy pathology, Muscular Atrophy prevention & control, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha metabolism
- Abstract
Skeletal muscle atrophy is represented by a dramatic decrease in muscle mass, and it is related to a lower life expectancy. Among the different causes, chronic inflammation and cancer promote protein loss through the effect of inflammatory cytokines, leading to muscle shrinkage. Thus, the availability of safe methods to counteract inflammation-derived atrophy is of high interest. Betaine is a methyl derivate of glycine and it is an important methyl group donor in transmethylation. Recently, some studies found that betaine could promote muscle growth, and it is also involved in anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Our hypothesis was that betaine would be able to prevent tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-mediated muscle atrophy in vitro. We treated differentiated C2C12 myotubes for 72 hr with either TNF-α, betaine, or a combination of them. After the treatment, we analyzed total protein synthesis, gene expression, and myotube morphology. Betaine treatment blunted the decrease in muscle protein synthesis rate exerted by TNF-α, and upregulated Mhy1 gene expression in both control and myotube treated with TNF-α. In addition, morphological analysis revealed that myotubes treated with both betaine and TNF-α did not show morphological features of TNF-α-mediated atrophy. We demonstrated that in vitro betaine supplementation counteracts the muscle atrophy led by inflammatory cytokines.
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- 2023
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32. Editorial: DNA methylation: The aging clock.
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Ghinassi B, Matarazzo MR, and Di Ruscio A
- Abstract
Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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- 2023
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33. Exploring dual career quality implementation at European higher education institutions: Insights from university experts.
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Izzicupo P, Di Baldassarre A, Ghinassi B, Abelkalns I, Bisenieks U, Sánchez-Pato A, Cánovas-Alvarez FJ, Figueiredo AJ, García-Roca JA, Leiva-Arcas A, Meroño L, Paegle A, Radu LE, Rus CM, Rusu OM, Sarmento H, Stonis J, Vaquero-Cristóbal R, Vaz V, Doupona M, and Capranica L
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- Humans, Universities, Students, Athletes, Schools
- Abstract
Introduction: This paper examines the convergence of the opinions of European higher education institution (HEI) experts on possible implementation of dual career policies and provision areas at university level., Methods: An online 32-item questionnaire encompassing 26 dual career aspects collected the opinion of European HEI experts as the last phase of a Delphi method preceded by i) focus groups with student-athletes who aimed to identify needs for dual careers and ii) a workshop with 21 dual career experts to generate the statements to be included in the survey. Seventy-one HEI experts from 12 EU member states participated in the survey, rating each dual career aspect identified in previous phases., Results: The relative position of each aspect has been plotted based on relevance (x-axis) and feasibility (y-axis). The Quadrant IV of the resulting scatterplots identified the following nine aspects rated as highly relevant and highly feasible for implementation: tutorship/mentorship, psychological support, programmes based on integration of academic departments and sports services, and adaptable programmes to the needs of each student-athletes (assistance/tutorship area), individual study plans and distance learning (curricula requirements area), publicity for student-athletes and initiatives for increasing the awareness of student-athletes and knowledge of dual career issues (social support area), and access to educational facilities (logistic support area)., Discussion and Conclusions: The HEI experts' views represent a coherent and useful starting point to develop a deep understanding of the considered 26 aspects founded on a phenomenological lifeworld-led approach and emphasizes the need for a minimum standard for dual career policies and provisions., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2022 Izzicupo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)
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- 2022
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34. Biomolecules and Cardiovascular Diseases in Women.
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Ghinassi B, Di Baldassarre A, and Crescioli C
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- Humans, Female, Risk Factors, Cardiovascular Diseases epidemiology, Cardiovascular Diseases therapy
- Abstract
Although cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of non-communicable diseases-dependent death worldwide, their effects are still largely underestimated in women [...].
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- 2022
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35. Prognostic Value of High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin in Women.
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Bisaccia G, Ricci F, Khanji MY, Gaggi G, Di Credico A, Gallina S, Di Baldassarre A, and Ghinassi B
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- Humans, Female, Male, Prognosis, Biomarkers, Troponin, Sexism, Acute Coronary Syndrome
- Abstract
High-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays have become the gold standard for diagnosing acute and chronic myocardial injury. The detection of troponin levels beyond the 99th percentile is included in the fourth universal definition of myocardial infarction, specifically recommending the use of sex-specific thresholds. Measurable concentrations below the proposed diagnostic thresholds have been shown to inform prognosis in different categories of inpatients and outpatients. However, clinical investigations from the last twenty years have yielded conflicting results regarding the incremental value of using different cut-offs for men and women. While advocates of a sex-specific approach claim it may help reduce gender bias in cardiovascular medicine, particularly in acute coronary syndromes, other groups question the alleged incremental diagnostic and prognostic value of sex-specific thresholds, ultimately asserting that less is more. In the present review, we aimed to synthesize our current understanding of sex-based differences in cardiac troponin levels and to reappraise the available evidence with regard to (i) the prognostic significance of sex-specific diagnostic thresholds of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays compared to common cut-offs in both men and women undergoing cardiovascular disease risk assessment, and (ii) the clinical utility of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin assays for cardiovascular disease prevention in women.
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- 2022
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36. Human fetal membrane-mesenchymal stromal cells generate functional spinal motor neurons in vitro .
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Gaggi G, Di Credico A, Guarnieri S, Mariggiò MA, Ballerini P, Di Baldassarre A, and Ghinassi B
- Abstract
Human fetal membrane mesenchymal stromal cells (hFM-MSCs) are a cell population easily isolable from the amniochorionic membrane of term placentas, without ethical issues or safety limitations. We previously reported that hFM-MSCs share some epigenetic characteristics with pluripotent stem cells and can overcome the mesenchymal commitment. Here, we demonstrated that hFM-MSCs can give rise to spinal motor neurons by the sequential exposure to specific factors that induced a neuralization, caudalization and ventralization of undifferentiated cells, leading to a gradual gene and protein upregulation of early and late MN markers. Also, spontaneous electrical activity (spikes and bursts) was recorded. Finally, when co-cultured with myotubes, differentiated MNs were able to create functional neuromuscular junctions that induced robust skeletal muscle cell contractions. These data demonstrated the hFM-MSCs can generate a mature and functional MN population that may represent an alternative source for regenerative medicine, disease modeling or drug screening., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2022 The Author(s).)
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- 2022
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37. DE-PASS Best Evidence Statement (BESt): modifiable determinants of physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children and adolescents aged 5-19 years-a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.
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Khudair M, Marcuzzi A, Ng K, Tempest GD, Bartoš F, Peric R, Maier M, Beccia F, Boccia S, Brandes M, Cardon G, Carlin A, Castagna C, Chaabene H, Chalkley A, Ciaccioni S, Cieślińska-Świder J, Čingienė V, Cortis C, Corvino C, de Geus EJ, Di Baldassarre A, Di Credico A, Drid P, Fernández Tarazaga RM, Gallè F, García Sánchez E, Gebremariam M, Ghinassi B, Goudas M, Hayes G, Honorio S, Izzicupo P, Jahre H, Jelsma J, Juric P, Kolovelonis A, Kongsvold A, Kouidi E, Mansergh F, Masanovic B, Mekonnen T, Mork PJ, Murphy M, O'Hara K, Torun AO, Palumbo F, Popovic S, Prieske O, Puharic Z, Ribeiro JC, Rumbold PLS, Sandu P, Sorić M, Stavnsbo M, Syrmpas I, van der Ploeg HP, Van Hoye A, Vilela S, Woods C, Wunsch K, Caprinica L, MacDonncha C, and Ling FCM
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Child, Humans, Meta-Analysis as Topic, Motor Activity, Systematic Reviews as Topic, Exercise, Sedentary Behavior
- Abstract
Introduction: Physical activity among children and adolescents remains insufficient, despite the substantial efforts made by researchers and policymakers. Identifying and furthering our understanding of potential modifiable determinants of physical activity behaviour (PAB) and sedentary behaviour (SB) is crucial for the development of interventions that promote a shift from SB to PAB. The current protocol details the process through which a series of systematic literature reviews and meta-analyses (MAs) will be conducted to produce a best-evidence statement (BESt) and inform policymakers. The overall aim is to identify modifiable determinants that are associated with changes in PAB and SB in children and adolescents (aged 5-19 years) and to quantify their effect on, or association with, PAB/SB., Methods and Analysis: A search will be performed in MEDLINE, SportDiscus, Web of Science, PsychINFO and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled trials (CTs) that investigate the effect of interventions on PAB/SB and longitudinal studies that investigate the associations between modifiable determinants and PAB/SB at multiple time points will be sought. Risk of bias assessments will be performed using adapted versions of Cochrane's RoB V.2.0 and ROBINS-I tools for RCTs and CTs, respectively, and an adapted version of the National Institute of Health's tool for longitudinal studies. Data will be synthesised narratively and, where possible, MAs will be performed using frequentist and Bayesian statistics. Modifiable determinants will be discussed considering the settings in which they were investigated and the PAB/SB measurement methods used., Ethics and Dissemination: No ethical approval is needed as no primary data will be collected. The findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications and academic conferences where possible. The BESt will also be shared with policy makers within the DE-PASS consortium in the first instance., Systematic Review Registration: CRD42021282874., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)
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- 2022
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38. The Effects of Physical Activity on the Gut Microbiota and the Gut-Brain Axis in Preclinical and Human Models: A Narrative Review.
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Cataldi S, Poli L, Şahin FN, Patti A, Santacroce L, Bianco A, Greco G, Ghinassi B, Di Baldassarre A, and Fischetti F
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- Animals, Brain physiology, Brain-Gut Axis, Exercise physiology, Humans, Mental Health, Gastrointestinal Microbiome physiology
- Abstract
Increasing evidence supports the importance of the gut microbiota (GM) in regulating multiple functions related to host physical health and, more recently, through the gut-brain axis (GBA), mental health. Similarly, the literature on the impact of physical activity (PA), including exercise, on GM and GBA is growing. Therefore, this narrative review summarizes and critically appraises the existing literature that delves into the benefits or adverse effects produced by PA on physical and mental health status through modifications of the GM, highlighting differences and similarities between preclinical and human studies. The same exercise in animal models, whether performed voluntarily or forced, has different effects on the GM, just as, in humans, intense endurance exercise can have a negative influence. In humans and animals, only aerobic PA seems able to modify the composition of the GM, whereas cardiovascular fitness appears related to specific microbial taxa or metabolites that promote a state of physical health. The PA favors bacterial strains that can promote physical performance and that can induce beneficial changes in the brain. Currently, it seems useful to prioritize aerobic activities at a moderate and not prolonged intensity. There may be greater benefits if PA is undertaken from a young age and the effects on the GM seem to gradually disappear when the activity is stopped. The PA produces modifications in the GM that can mediate and induce mental health benefits., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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- 2022
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39. Human mesenchymal amniotic fluid stem cells reveal an unexpected neuronal potential differentiating into functional spinal motor neurons.
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Gaggi G, Di Credico A, Guarnieri S, Mariggiò MA, Di Baldassarre A, and Ghinassi B
- Abstract
Human amniotic fluids stem cells (hAFSCs) can be easily isolated from the amniotic fluid during routinely scheduled amniocentesis. Unlike hiPSCs or hESC, they are neither tumorigenic nor immunogenic and their use does not rise ethical or safety issues: for these reasons they may represent a good candidate for the regenerative medicine. hAFSCs are generally considered multipotent and committed towards the mesodermal lineages; however, they express many pluripotent markers and share some epigenetic features with hiPSCs. Hence, we hypothesized that hAFSCs may overcome their mesodermal commitment differentiating into to ectodermal lineages. Here we demonstrated that by the sequential exposure to specific factors, hAFSCs can give rise to spinal motor neurons (MNs), as evidenced by the gradual gene and protein upregulation of early and late MN markers (PAX6, ISL1, HB9, NF-L, vAChT). When co-cultured with myotubes, hAFSCs-derived MNs were able to create functional neuromuscular junctions that induced robust skeletal muscle contractions. These data demonstrated the hAFSCs are not restricted to mesodermal commitment and can generate functional MNs thus outlining an ethically acceptable strategy for the study and treatment of the neurodegenerative diseases., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Gaggi, Di Credico, Guarnieri, Mariggiò, Di Baldassarre and Ghinassi.)
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- 2022
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40. Estimation of Heart Rate Variability Parameters by Machine Learning Approaches Applied to Facial Infrared Thermal Imaging.
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Di Credico A, Perpetuini D, Izzicupo P, Gaggi G, Cardone D, Filippini C, Merla A, Ghinassi B, and Di Baldassarre A
- Abstract
Heart rate variability (HRV) is a reliable tool for the evaluation of several physiological factors modulating the heart rate (HR). Importantly, variations of HRV parameters may be indicative of cardiac diseases and altered psychophysiological conditions. Recently, several studies focused on procedures for contactless HR measurements from facial videos. However, the performances of these methods decrease when illumination is poor. Infrared thermography (IRT) could be useful to overcome this limitation. In fact, IRT can measure the infrared radiations emitted by the skin, working properly even in no visible light illumination conditions. This study investigated the capability of facial IRT to estimate HRV parameters through a face tracking algorithm and a cross-validated machine learning approach, employing photoplethysmography (PPG) as the gold standard for the HR evaluation. The results demonstrated a good capability of facial IRT in estimating HRV parameters. Particularly, strong correlations between the estimated and measured HR ( r = 0.7), RR intervals ( r = 0.67), TINN ( r = 0.71), and pNN50 (%) ( r = 0.70) were found, whereas moderate correlations for RMSSD ( r = 0.58), SDNN ( r = 0.44), and LF/HF ( r = 0.48) were discovered. The proposed procedure allows for a contactless estimation of the HRV that could be beneficial for evaluating both cardiac and general health status in subjects or conditions where contact probe sensors cannot be used., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Di Credico, Perpetuini, Izzicupo, Gaggi, Cardone, Filippini, Merla, Ghinassi and Di Baldassarre.)
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- 2022
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41. Commentary: I fix what's broken-including the heart.
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Di Mauro M, Ghinassi B, and Di Baldassarre A
- Subjects
- Humans, Heart, Thorax
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
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42. Understanding dual career views of European university athletes: The more than gold project focus groups.
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Capranica L, Doupona M, Abelkalns I, Bisenieks U, Sánchez-Pato A, Cánovas-Alvarez FJ, Figueiredo AJ, García-Roca JA, Leiva-Arcas A, Meroño L, Paegle A, Radu LE, Rus CM, Rusu OM, Sarmento H, Stonis J, Vaquero-Cristóbal R, Vaz V, Ghinassi B, Izzicupo P, and Di Baldassarre A
- Subjects
- Adult, Europe, Female, Humans, Male, Athletes, Career Choice, Curriculum, Sports, Students, Universities
- Abstract
Previous studies have found that student-athletes (S-As) have difficulties in achieving dual career (DC) success. However, no studies have analysed the opinion of the S-As on the functioning of DC with a qualitative methodology. The aim of the present work was to collect the opinions of elite university S-As in relation to DC policy adopted by their academic institutions in different European countries. In total, 77 athletes (F = 35, M = 42; age range: 20-25 years) participated in 15 national face-to-face focus groups in five different countries, to discuss aspects that higher education institutes should implement in relation to: 1) the athletes' needs; 2) assistance/tutorship: 2) curricula requirements; 3) financial support; 4) logistic support; 5) social support; and 6) dual career policies. Fifty of the athletes competed in individual sports and twenty-seven team sports. Of them, 57 was enrolled at undergraduate, 17 was enrolled in a master and 3 in a PhD. The athletes were presented with 13 open-ended questions one by one, and were ensured freedom to interact. All the discussions were recorded. After this, a general discussion took place in which the participants identified and agreed on a final list of statements from their focus group deemed to be relevant to DC athletes as university students. Then, at a consensus meeting, the findings were combined, repetitions were eliminated, and fragmented statements were condensed into broader ones. A final list of 31 statements, organized in six related content units, were identified in relation to the athletes' needs (n = 5), assistance/tutorship (n = 5), curricula requirements (n = 4), financial support (n = 4), logistic support (n = 4), social support (n = 6), and DC policies (n = 3), respectively. In conclusion, this cross-national qualitative research study synthesized the S-As views about their needs and the most relevant DC policies and provisions that higher education institutes should provide to ensure them with positive academic experiences towards the achievement of a degree., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
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- 2022
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43. Bioelectrical Impedance Vector Analysis of Young Elite Team Handball Players.
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Di Credico A, Gaggi G, Vamvakis A, Serafini S, Ghinassi B, Di Baldassarre A, and Izzicupo P
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Body Composition, Body Height, Body Mass Index, Electric Impedance, Female, Humans, Male, Reference Values, Sports
- Abstract
Team handball is a highly dynamic sport where physical demands differ between categories and roles. Thus, physical characteristics are fundamental for the final performance. This study aims to (a) characterize a sample of young male and female elite team handball players with a non-athletic reference population; (b) to generate their 50%, 75%, and 95% percentiles of the bioelectrical variables. The study included 55 young elite team handball players (Males, n = 37, age = 17.0 ± 1.2 yrs, height = 185.8 ± 7.3 cm, weight = 82.0 ± 11.0 kg, body mass index (BMI) = 23.7 ± 2.5; Females, n = 18, age = 17.8 ± 0.9 yrs, height = 171.2 ± 6.4 cm, weight = 67.4 ± 7.2 kg, BMI = 23.0 ± 2.0). Height and bioelectrical variables were assessed in a state of euhydration and standard conditions. Bioelectrical impedance vector analysis (BIVA) was used to characterize the bioelectrical vector (BIA vector) distribution pattern for each group. Compared to the reference values, BIA vector showed statistically significant differences in males U17 ( n = 19, T
2 = 51.0, p < 0.0001), males U19 ( n = 18, T2 = 82.0, p < 0.0001) and females U19 ( n = 18, T2 = 85.8, p < 0.0001). Male groups were also bioelectrically different (T2 = 13.7, p = 0.0036). BIVA showed specific bioelectrical characteristics in young male and female elite handball players. This study provides an original data set of bioelectrical impedance reference values of young male and female elite team handball players. Our result might help to interpret individual bioimpedance vectors and define target regions for young handball players.- Published
- 2021
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44. Real-Time Monitoring of Levetiracetam Effect on the Electrophysiology of an Heterogenous Human iPSC-Derived Neuronal Cell Culture Using Microelectrode Array Technology.
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Di Credico A, Gaggi G, Izzicupo P, Ferri L, Bonanni L, Iannetti G, Di Baldassarre A, and Ghinassi B
- Subjects
- Cell Culture Techniques, Electrophysiological Phenomena, Humans, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells drug effects, Levetiracetam pharmacology, Microelectrodes, Neurons drug effects
- Abstract
Levetiracetam (LEV) is a broad-spectrum and widely used antiepileptic drug that also has neuroprotective effects in different neurological conditions. Given its complex interaction with neuronal physiology, a better comprehension of LEV effects on neurons activity is needed. Microelectrode arrays (MEAs) represent an advanced technology for the non-invasive study of electrophysiological activity of neuronal cell cultures. In this study, we exploited the Maestro Edge MEA system, a platform that allows a deep analysis of the electrical network behavior, to study the electrophysiological effect of LEV on a mixed population of human neurons (glutamatergic, GABAergic and dopaminergic neurons, and astrocytes). We found that LEV significantly affected different variables such as spiking, single-electrode bursting, and network bursting activity, with a pronounced effect after 15 min. Moreover, neuronal cell culture completely rescued its baseline activity after 24 h without LEV. In summary, MEA technology confirmed its high sensitivity in detecting drug-induced electrophysiological modifications. Moreover, our results allow one to extend the knowledge on the electrophysiological effects of LEV on the complex neuronal population that resembles the human cortex.
- Published
- 2021
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45. NAD Modulates DNA Methylation and Cell Differentiation.
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Ummarino S, Hausman C, Gaggi G, Rinaldi L, Bassal MA, Zhang Y, Seelam AJ, Kobayashi IS, Borchiellini M, Ebralidze AK, Ghinassi B, Trinh BQ, Kobayashi SS, and Di Ruscio A
- Subjects
- CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins genetics, CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins metabolism, Cell Line, DNA Demethylation drug effects, Humans, Mitochondria drug effects, Mitochondria metabolism, Myeloid Cells cytology, Myeloid Cells drug effects, Neoplasms genetics, Neoplasms pathology, Oxidative Phosphorylation drug effects, Poly Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose metabolism, Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases metabolism, Promoter Regions, Genetic genetics, RNA, Messenger genetics, RNA, Messenger metabolism, Transcription, Genetic drug effects, Cell Differentiation drug effects, DNA Methylation genetics, NAD pharmacology
- Abstract
Nutritional intake impacts the human epigenome by directing epigenetic pathways in normal cell development via as yet unknown molecular mechanisms. Consequently, imbalance in the nutritional intake is able to dysregulate the epigenetic profile and drive cells towards malignant transformation. Here we present a novel epigenetic effect of the essential nutrient, NAD. We demonstrate that impairment of DNMT1 enzymatic activity by NAD-promoted ADP-ribosylation leads to demethylation and transcriptional activation of the CEBPA gene, suggesting the existence of an unknown NAD-controlled region within the locus. In addition to the molecular events, NAD- treated cells exhibit significant morphological and phenotypical changes that correspond to myeloid differentiation. Collectively, these results delineate a novel role for NAD in cell differentiation, and indicate novel nutri-epigenetic strategies to regulate and control gene expression in human cells.
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- 2021
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46. The Prediction of Running Velocity during the 30-15 Intermittent Fitness Test Using Accelerometry-Derived Metrics and Physiological Parameters: A Machine Learning Approach.
- Author
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Di Credico A, Perpetuini D, Chiacchiaretta P, Cardone D, Filippini C, Gaggi G, Merla A, Ghinassi B, Di Baldassarre A, and Izzicupo P
- Subjects
- Accelerometry, Benchmarking, Exercise, Exercise Test, Heart Rate, Humans, Machine Learning, High-Intensity Interval Training, Running
- Abstract
Measuring exercise variables is one of the most important points to consider to maximize physiological adaptations. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) is a useful method to improve both cardiovascular and neuromuscular performance. The 30-15
IFT is a field test reflecting the effort elicited by HIIT, and the final velocity reached in the test is used to set the intensity of HIIT during the training session. In order to have a valid measure of the velocity during training, devices such as GPS can be used. However, in several situations (e.g., indoor setting), such devices do not provide reliable measures. The aim of the study was to predict exact running velocity during the 30-15IFT using accelerometry-derived metrics (i.e., Player Load and Average Net Force) and heart rate (HR) through a machine learning (ML) approach (i.e., Support Vector Machine) with a leave-one-subject-out cross-validation. The SVM approach showed the highest performance to predict running velocity (r = 0.91) when compared to univariate approaches using PL (r = 0.62), AvNetForce (r = 0.73) and HR only (r = 0.87). In conclusion, the presented multivariate ML approach is able to predict running velocity better than univariate ones, and the model is generalizable across subjects.- Published
- 2021
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47. Chemical and Biological Molecules Involved in Differentiation, Maturation, and Survival of Dopaminergic Neurons in Health and Parkinson's Disease: Physiological Aspects and Clinical Implications.
- Author
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Gaggi G, Di Credico A, Izzicupo P, Iannetti G, Di Baldassarre A, and Ghinassi B
- Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disease characterized by a specific and progressive loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons and dopamine, causing motor dysfunctions and impaired movements. Unfortunately, available therapies can partially treat the motor symptoms, but they have no effect on non-motor features. In addition, the therapeutic effect reduces gradually, and the prolonged use of drugs leads to a significative increase in the number of adverse events. For these reasons, an alternative approach that allows the replacement or the improved survival of DA neurons is very appealing for the treatment of PD patients and recently the first human clinical trials for DA neurons replacement have been set up. Here, we review the role of chemical and biological molecules that are involved in the development, survival and differentiation of DA neurons. In particular, we review the chemical small molecules used to differentiate different type of stem cells into DA neurons with high efficiency; the role of microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs both in DA neurons development/survival as far as in the pathogenesis of PD; and, finally, we dissect the potential role of exosomes carrying biological molecules as treatment of PD.
- Published
- 2021
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48. Dual Careers of Athletes During COVID-19 Lockdown.
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Izzicupo P, Di Baldassarre A, Abelkalns I, Bisenieks U, Sánchez-Pato A, Cánovas-Alvarez FJ, Doupona M, Figueiredo AJ, García-Roca JA, Ghinassi B, Leiva-Arcas A, Meroño L, Paegle A, Radu LE, Rus CM, Rusu OM, Sarmento H, Stonis J, Vaquero-Cristóbal R, Vaz V, and Capranica L
- Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the student-athletes' capability to face the academic, sport, and social challenges during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown and to disclose novel aspects of dual careers. A 32-item online survey encompassing demographic characteristics, sport and university engagement, support and dual-career benefits, physical activity, sitting time, and the time deemed necessary to recover the previous level of performance was developed. Four hundred sixty-seven student-athletes (males: 57%, females: 43%) from 11 countries, competing in 49 different sports (individual: 63.4%, team: 36.6%) at regional (17.5%), national (43.3%), and international (39.2%) levels, and enrolled at high school (21.9%) and university (78.1%) levels completed the survey. During the lockdown, the respondents decreased the time dedicated to sport and academics, although they maintained an active lifestyle. Student-athletes from countries under severe contagion were more likely to train at home, dedicate to academics, and receive support from the coach but less likely receive support from their teachers. With respect to their team sport counterparts, athletes competing in individual sports trained more and were more likely to receive support from their coaches. International athletes showed the highest training time and support from their coaches and as student-athletes. High school students received more support from their coaches and teachers, whereas university students were more likely considering dual careers useful to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. This study substantiates the relevant role of competitive sports participation in the maintenance of active lifestyles, with student-athletes considering home training and e-learning valuable resources during the lockdown. Furthermore, their sport and academic commitments helped student-athletes cope with the emergency of the COVID-19 pandemic., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Izzicupo, Di Baldassarre, Abelkalns, Bisenieks, Sánchez-Pato, Cánovas-Alvarez, Doupona, Figueiredo, García-Roca, Ghinassi, Leiva-Arcas, Meroño, Paegle, Radu, Rus, Rusu, Sarmento, Stonis, Vaquero-Cristóbal, Vaz and Capranica.)
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
49. Objectively Measured Physical Activity Increases Only in Males During a Summer Camp for Obese Children.
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Izzicupo P, Di Blasio A, Di Credico A, Ghinassi B, Capranica L, Napolitano G, Di Baldassarre A, Modestini E, and Di Pietro M
- Abstract
Childhood obesity is a major public health challenge. Summer camps for children with obesity represent an alternative setting to improve eating and physical activity habits. Here we evaluated if the participation in the camp improves objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behavior and whether there are differences between male and female participants. Twenty-eight children, 13 males and 15 females (body mass index >97° centile, weight excess >30%, Tanner stage I), agreed to participate in an 8-day camp. During the summer camp, children participated in sports-like games and outdoor activities for at least 3 h a day, and the school-camp staff also provided a theoretical nutritional learning plan. Accelerometry-derived physical activity was measured through the SenseWear Mini Armband during a week at home and during the camp experience. Before camping, the participants were far above the minimum daily values of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) to be considered sufficiently active (≥60 min/day), but male participants were more active than females (MVPA: 186.2 ± 94.2, 111.0 ± 64.7; P = 0.020). Male participants increased their MVPA (234.3 ± 114.8, P = 0.020), whereas females not (111.9 ± 52.9, P = 0.020). No difference emerged for the sedentary behavior either before or during the camp. This study suggests that participation in a summer camp for obese children can determine different responses in physical activity levels, depending on the sex of young participants. Thus, summer camps for obese children should put particular attention on female participants, besides reducing sedentary behavior in both males and females., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Izzicupo, Di Blasio, Di Credico, Ghinassi, Capranica, Napolitano, Di Baldassarre, Modestini and Di Pietro.)
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
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50. Effect of Adherence to Physical Exercise on Cardiometabolic Profile in Postmenopausal Women.
- Author
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Bucciarelli V, Bianco F, Mucedola F, Di Blasio A, Izzicupo P, Tuosto D, Ghinassi B, Bucci I, Napolitano G, Di Baldassarre A, and Gallina S
- Subjects
- Exercise, Female, Humans, Sedentary Behavior, Walking, Cardiovascular Diseases, Postmenopause
- Abstract
Background : Menopause is associated with negative cardiovascular adaptations related to estrogen depletion, which could be counteracted by physical exercise (PhE). However, the impact of total adherence-rate (TA) to PhE and sedentary time (SedT) on cardiometabolic profile in this population has not been elucidated. Methods: For 13-weeks, 43 women (57.1 ± 4.7 years) participated in a 4-days-a-week moderate-intensity walking training. They underwent laboratory, anthropometric and echocardiographic assessment, before and after training (T0-T1). Spontaneous physical activity (PhA) was assessed with a portable multisensory device. The sample was divided according to TA to PhE program: <70% ( n = 17) and ≥70% ( n = 26). Results: TA ≥ 70% group experienced a significant T1 improvement of relative wall thickness (RWT), diastolic function, VO2max, cortisol, cortisol/dehydroandrostenedione-sulphate ratio and serum glucose. After adjusting for SedT and 10-min bouts of spontaneous moderate-to-vigorous PhA, TA ≥ 70% showed the most significant absolute change of RWT and diastolic function, body mass index, weight and cortisol. TA ≥ 70% was major predictor of RWT and cortisol improvement. Conclusions: In a group of untrained, postmenopausal women, a high TA to a 13-weeks aerobic PhE program confers a better improvement in cardiometabolic profile, regardless of SedT and PhA levels.
- Published
- 2021
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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