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Science and philosophy: towards a common Language for the third Millennium The foundation (or refoundation) of a flexible and multifunctional Lògos for shaping a common language should be the main object of an ambitious project for the third millennium. We urge to imagine a platform in which science and philosophy are co-implicated. We need to construe a heuristic scaffolding to think in new ways an allegiance in which science and philosophy can find a new intimacy. In this interview Lucio Pastore and Gianluca Giannini discuss some crucial themes on the frontier between philosophical investigation and scientific innovations (with particular regard to life sciences).

To date, the increased awareness of the impact of microbes on human health has promoted scientific interest in microbiome studies for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes, revealing correlations between specific taxa and cancer. In particular, numerous species of Porphyromonas have been associated with several types of tumors. Previously, we studied the urobiome using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), and found an increase in Porphyromonas somerae in first morning urine of subjects affected by bladder cancer (BCa). Here, we aimed to confirm the presence of P. somerae in BCa patients by using droplet digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR), testing a cohort of 102 male subjects over 50 years. Our findings showed a significant increase in P. somerae in the urine of the BCa group within both ddPCR and NGS, and a correlation between the two methods was observed at a statistical level. Moreover, P. somerae's identification with ddPCR confirmed a significant association between this bacterium and the presence of BCa, highlighting its potential role as a biomarker. This allows us to propose the ddPCR as a suitable method for first-stage BCa screening and follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Schizophrenia (SCZ) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are neurodevelopmental diseases characterized by different psychopathological manifestations and divergent clinical trajectories. Various alterations at glutamatergic synapses have been reported in both disorders, including abnormal NMDA and metabotropic receptor signaling. Methods: We conducted a bicentric study to assess the blood serum levels of NMDA receptors-related glutamatergic amino acids and their precursors, including L-glutamate, L-glutamine, D-aspartate, L-aspartate, L-asparagine, Dserine, L-serine and glycine, in ASD, SCZ patients and their respective control subjects. Specifically, the SCZ patients were subdivided into treatment-resistant and non-treatment-resistant SCZ patients, based on their responsivity to conventional antipsychotics. Results: D-serine and D-aspartate serum reductions were found in SCZ patients compared to controls. Conversely, no significant differences between cases and controls were found in amino acid concentrations in the two ASD cohorts analyzed. Discussion: This result further encourages future research to evaluate the predictive role of selected D-amino acids as peripheral markers for SCZ pathophysiology and diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the unprecedented effort of the scientific community, the novel SARS-CoV-2 virus has infected more than 46 million people worldwide, killing over one million two hundred thousand. Understanding the mechanisms by which some individuals are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection and why a subgroup of them are prone to experience severe pneumonia, and death should lead to a better approach and more effective treatments for COVID-19. Here, we focus our attention on ACE2, a primary receptor of SARS-CoV-2. We will discuss its biology, tissue expression, and post-translational regulation that determine its potential to be employed by SARS-CoV-2 for cell entry. Particular attention will be given to how the ACE2 soluble form can have a great impact on disease progression and thus be used in a potential therapeutic strategy. Furthermore, we will discuss repercussions that SARS-CoV-2/ACE2 binding has on the renin-angiotensin system and beyond. Indeed, although mostly neglected, ACE2 can also act on [des-Arg 937]-bradykinin of the kinin-kallikrein system regulating coagulation and inflammation. Thorough comprehension of the role that ACE2 plays in different pathways will be the key to assess the impact that SARS-CoV-2/ACE2 binding has on organismal physiology and will help us to find better therapies and diagnostic tools., Author(s): Filippo Scialo [sup.1] [sup.4], Aurora Daniele [sup.2] [sup.4], Felice Amato [sup.3] [sup.4], Lucio Pastore [sup.3] [sup.4], Maria Gabriella Matera [sup.5], Mario Cazzola [sup.6], Giuseppe Castaldo [sup.3] [sup.4], Andrea Bianco [...]

Introduction: immunotherapy is a type of treatment that harnesses the power of the immune system by modulating the immune response and improving its ability to recognize and destroy cancer cells. In clinical practice, there are different types of immunotherapies used to treat cancer, including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). ICIs work by blocking proteins in cancer cells that prevent the immune system from recognizing and attacking them. ICIs immunotherapy could be combined with oncolytic virotherapy to enhance the overall therapeutic effect. Methods: in our study, we generated multicellular spheroids models of murine lung adenocarcinoma using 70 000 cells/ spheroids. We selected the multicellular spheroids model for its ability to mimic the in vivo tridimensional structure. We then infected the multicellular spheroids with 5 000 multiplicities of infection (MOI) of two oncolytic adenoviruses, Ad5D24 and Ad5D24-anti-PD-L1-scFv. To mimic the immune system in vitro, we isolated naïve splenocytes from C57BL/6J mice spleen and performed a co-culture assay. Results: Infection of the murine lung adenocarcinoma spheroids with either oncolytic adenovirus induced a reduction of the area; the highest area reduction was obtained with a combination between Ad5D24-Anti-PD-L1-scFv and splenocytes. Conclusions: In line with the results obtained, we claim that the lung adenocarcinoma cell line is a suitable model to generate multicellular spheroids, contributing to standardize 3D culture models, and although the in vivo environment is more complex than in vitro, the 3D model could represent a good compromise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

COVID-19 encompasses a broad spectrum of clinical conditions caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection. More severe cases experience acute respiratory and/or multiorgan failure. KL-6 is a glycoprotein expressed mainly from type II alveolar cells with pro-fibrotic properties. Serum KL-6 concentrations have been found in patients with COVID-19. However, the relevance of KL-6 in patients with severe and critical COVID-19 has not been fully elucidated. Methods: Retrospective data from consecutive severe to critical COVID-19 patients were collected at UOC Clinica Pnuemologica "Vanvitelli", A.O. dei Colli, Naples, Italy. The study included patients with a positive rhinopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 RNA with severe or critical COVID-19. Results: Among 87 patients, 24 had poor outcomes. The median KL-6 value in survivors was significantly lower when compared with dead or intubated patients (530 U/mL versus 1069 U/mL p < 0.001). KL-6 was correlated with body mass index (BMI) (r: 0.279, p: 0.009), lung ultrasound score (LUS) (r: 0.429, p < 0.001), Chung Score (r: 0.390, p < 0.001). KL-6 was associated with the risk of death or oro-tracheal intubation (IOT) after adjusting for gender, BMI, Charlson Index, Chung Score, and PaO2/FIO2 (OR 1.003 95% CI 1.001–1.004, p < 0.001). Serum KL-6 value of 968 has a sensitivity of 79.2%, specificity of 87.1%, PPV 70.4%, NPV 91.5%, AUC: O.85 for risk of death or IOT. Conclusions: The presented research highlights the relevance of serum KL-6 in severe to critical COVID-19 patients in predicting the risk of death or IOT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]