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Zacchini F, Barozzi C, Venturi G, Montanaro L. How snoRNAs can contribute to cancer at multiple levels. NAR Cancer 2024; 6:zcae005. [PMID: 38406265 PMCID: PMC10894041 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcae005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
snoRNAs are a class of non-coding RNAs known to guide site specifically RNA modifications such as 2'-O-methylation and pseudouridylation. Recent results regarding snoRNA alterations in cancer has been made available and suggest their potential evaluation as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. A large part of these data, however, was not consistently confirmed and failed to provide mechanistic insights on the contribution of altered snoRNA expression to the neoplastic process. Here, we aim to critically review the available literature on snoRNA in cancer focusing on the studies elucidating the functional consequences of their deregulation. Beyond the canonical guide function in RNA processing and modification we also considered additional roles in which snoRNA, in various forms and through different modalities, are involved and that have been recently reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Zacchini
- Departmental Program in Laboratory Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, I-40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Chiara Barozzi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna I-40138, Italy
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna I-40138, Italy
- Centre for Applied Biomedical Research – CRBA, University of Bologna, Sant’Orsola Hospital, Bologna I-40138, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Montanaro
- Departmental Program in Laboratory Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, I-40138 Bologna, Italy
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Bologna I-40138, Italy
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Gelfo V, Venturi G, Zacchini F, Montanaro L. Decoding Ribosome Heterogeneity: A New Horizon in Cancer Therapy. Biomedicines 2024; 12:155. [PMID: 38255260 PMCID: PMC10813612 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The traditional perception of ribosomes as uniform molecular machines has been revolutionized by recent discoveries, revealing a complex landscape of ribosomal heterogeneity. Opposing the conventional belief in interchangeable ribosomal entities, emerging studies underscore the existence of specialized ribosomes, each possessing unique compositions and functions. Factors such as cellular and tissue specificity, developmental and physiological states, and external stimuli, including circadian rhythms, significantly influence ribosome compositions. For instance, muscle cells and neurons are characterized by distinct ribosomal protein sets and dynamic behaviors, respectively. Furthermore, alternative forms of ribosomal RNA (rRNAs) and their post-transcriptional modifications add another dimension to this heterogeneity. These variations, orchestrated by spatial, temporal, and conditional factors, enable the manifestation of a broad spectrum of specialized ribosomes, each tailored for potentially distinct functions. Such specialization not only impacts mRNA translation and gene expression but also holds significant implications for broader biological contexts, notably in the realm of cancer research. As the understanding of ribosomal diversity deepens, it also paves the way for exploring novel avenues in cellular function and offers a fresh perspective on the molecular intricacies of translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Gelfo
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (V.G.); (G.V.)
- Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), Bologna University Hospital Authority St. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (V.G.); (G.V.)
- Centre for Applied Biomedical Research (CRBA), Bologna University Hospital Authority St. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Federico Zacchini
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Lorenzo Montanaro
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy; (V.G.); (G.V.)
- IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
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Marchi M, Venturi G, Visentini C, Pinelli M, Priebe S, Galeazzi GM. The therapeutic relationship in community mental health services: a systematic review of the literature. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2023:10.1007/s00127-023-02581-2. [PMID: 37875610 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-023-02581-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This systematic review aimed to investigate the therapeutic relationship (TR) between mental health professionals (MHPs) and their patients in community mental health services (CMHS). METHODS PubMed (Medline), PsycINFO, CINAHL, CENTRAL, and Web of Science were searched for studies that assessed TR in CMHS using quantitative measures developed specifically for this setting (i.e., Helping Alliance Scale [HAS] and the Scale to Assess the Therapeutic Relationship [STAR]). Studies were included if they considered adult patients with a psychiatric disorder and/or any MHP working in CMHS. Meta-analysis and narrative synthesis assessed the association between patients' and MHPs' ratings and identified predictors of TR. RESULTS Of 1934 studies, 15 were included in the review, including 3004 patients. A total of 1127 patients and 963 MHPs were considered in the meta-analysis. The heterogeneity of the studies was high, and there was no significant difference between the patients' and MHPs' TR ratings in the random-effects model (standardized mean difference [SMD]: - 0.39 [95% CI: - 1.03; 0.24]). In the multivariable meta-regression, only duration of illness was significantly associated with TR ratings (unstandardized regression coefficient [B]: 0.388 [95% CI: 0.217; 0.558]). A recovery-oriented service, shared decision-making, and the recognition of patient needs contributed to more positive TR ratings. CONCLUSION Patients and MHPs converged in their TR ratings, although patients gave lower ratings. Routine assessment of TR in CMHS can inform reflective practice and service development, as TR can be assessed easily and early in the treatment process. Future research should focus on developing and testing interventions to improve TR in CMHS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia Marchi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Dipartimento ad Attività Integrata di Salute Mentale e Dipendenze Patologiche, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Via Giovanni Amendola 2, 42122, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Dipartimento ad Attività Integrata di Salute Mentale e Dipendenze Patologiche, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Via Giovanni Amendola 2, 42122, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Chiara Visentini
- Department of Mental Health and Drug Abuse, AUSL Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Margherita Pinelli
- Dipartimento ad Attività Integrata di Salute Mentale e Dipendenze Patologiche, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Via Giovanni Amendola 2, 42122, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | | | - Gian Maria Galeazzi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
- Dipartimento ad Attività Integrata di Salute Mentale e Dipendenze Patologiche, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Via Giovanni Amendola 2, 42122, Reggio Emilia, Italy.
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Gitto S, Vizzutti F, Baldi S, Campani C, Navari N, Falcini M, Venturi G, Montanari S, Roccarina D, Arena U, Pallecchi M, Di Bonaventura C, Bartolucci G, Ramazzotti M, Citone M, Fanelli F, Amedei A, Marra F. Transjugular intrahepatic Porto-systemic shunt positively influences the composition and metabolic functions of the gut microbiota in cirrhotic patients. Dig Liver Dis 2023; 55:622-628. [PMID: 36529635 DOI: 10.1016/j.dld.2022.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Cirrhosis and its complications may affect gut microbiota (GM) composition. Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) represents the most effective treatment for portal hypertension (PH). We aimed to evaluate whether TIPS placement modifies GM composition and metabolic function. METHODS A compositional and functional GM analysis was prospectively performed in 13 cirrhotic patients receiving TIPS. Patients receiving systemic or non-absorbable antibiotics for any indications were excluded. Fecal samples were collected before and three months after TIPS. GM was analyzed by 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing. Small- and medium-chain fatty acids (SCFAs and MCFAs, respectively) were measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. RESULTS TIPS placement resulted in a mean 48% reduction in portal-caval pressure gradient. No recurrence of PH related complications was observed. After TIPS, increased levels of Flavonifractor spp. (p = 0.049), and decreased levels of Clostridiaceae (p = 0.024), these latter linked to abdominal infections in cirrhotic patients, were observed. No differences were found in the SCFAs signature while analysis of MCFA profiles showed a decreased abundance of pro-inflammatory isohexanoic (p<0.01), 2-ethylhexanoic (p<0.01) and octanoic acids (p<0.01) after TIPS. CONCLUSION Correction of PH following TIPS results in modifications of GM composition which could be potentially beneficial and reduces the levels of fecal pro-inflammatory MCFAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Gitto
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesco Vizzutti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Simone Baldi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Claudia Campani
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Nadia Navari
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Margherita Falcini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Stanislao Montanari
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Davide Roccarina
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Umberto Arena
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Marco Pallecchi
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Chiara Di Bonaventura
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Gianluca Bartolucci
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health Section of Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy
| | - Matteo Ramazzotti
- Department of Biomedical, Experimental and Clinical Sciences "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Citone
- Interventional Radiology Unit, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Fanelli
- Interventional Radiology Unit, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Amedeo Amedei
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Fabio Marra
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Center for Research, High Education and Transfer DENOThe, University of Florence, Florence, Italy.
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Erjavec T, Ogrodniczuk M, Osenova P, Ljubešić N, Simov K, Pančur A, Rudolf M, Kopp M, Barkarson S, Steingrímsson S, Çöltekin Ç, de Does J, Depuydt K, Agnoloni T, Venturi G, Pérez MC, de Macedo LD, Navarretta C, Luxardo G, Coole M, Rayson P, Morkevičius V, Krilavičius T, Darǵis R, Ring O, van Heusden R, Marx M, Fišer D. The ParlaMint corpora of parliamentary proceedings. LANG RESOUR EVAL 2023; 57:415-448. [PMID: 35125984 PMCID: PMC8807381 DOI: 10.1007/s10579-021-09574-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents the ParlaMint corpora containing transcriptions of the sessions of the 17 European national parliaments with half a billion words. The corpora are uniformly encoded, contain rich meta-data about 11 thousand speakers, and are linguistically annotated following the Universal Dependencies formalism and with named entities. Samples of the corpora and conversion scripts are available from the project's GitHub repository, and the complete corpora are openly available via the CLARIN.SI repository for download, as well as through the NoSketch Engine and KonText concordancers and the Parlameter interface for on-line exploration and analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomaž Erjavec
- Department of Knowledge Technologies, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Maciej Ogrodniczuk
- Institute of Computer Science, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Petya Osenova
- Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and Sofia University “St. Kl. Ohridski”, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Nikola Ljubešić
- Department of Knowledge Technologies, Jožef Stefan Institute and Faculty of Computer Science and Informatics, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Kiril Simov
- Institute of Information and Communication Technologies, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Andrej Pančur
- Institute for Contemporay History, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Michał Rudolf
- Institute of Computer Science, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Matyáš Kopp
- Institute of Formal and Applied Linguistics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Tommaso Agnoloni
- Institute of Legal Informatics and Judicial Systems CNR-IGSG, Florence, Italy
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Institute of Computational Linguistics CNR-ILC, Pis, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Maarten Marx
- Universiteit van Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Darja Fišer
- Arts Faculty, University of Ljubljana, and Institute of Contemporary History, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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6
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Mellone M, Piotrowska K, Venturi G, James L, Bzura A, Lopez MA, James S, Wang C, Ellis MJ, Hanley CJ, Buckingham JF, Cox KL, Hughes G, Valge-Archer V, King EV, Beers SA, Jaquet V, Jones GD, Savelyeva N, Sayan E, Parsons JL, Durant S, Thomas GJ. ATM Regulates Differentiation of Myofibroblastic Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Can Be Targeted to Overcome Immunotherapy Resistance. Cancer Res 2022; 82:4571-4585. [PMID: 36353752 PMCID: PMC9755965 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-0435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Myofibroblastic cancer-associated fibroblast (myoCAF)-rich tumors generally contain few T cells and respond poorly to immune-checkpoint blockade. Although myoCAFs are associated with poor outcome in most solid tumors, the molecular mechanisms regulating myoCAF accumulation remain unclear, limiting the potential for therapeutic intervention. Here, we identify ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) as a central regulator of the myoCAF phenotype. Differentiating myofibroblasts in vitro and myoCAFs cultured ex vivo display activated ATM signaling, and targeting ATM genetically or pharmacologically could suppress and reverse differentiation. ATM activation was regulated by the reactive oxygen species-producing enzyme NOX4, both through DNA damage and increased oxidative stress. Targeting fibroblast ATM in vivo suppressed myoCAF-rich tumor growth, promoted intratumoral CD8 T-cell infiltration, and potentiated the response to anti-PD-1 blockade and antitumor vaccination. This work identifies a novel pathway regulating myoCAF differentiation and provides a rationale for using ATM inhibitors to overcome CAF-mediated immunotherapy resistance. SIGNIFICANCE ATM signaling supports the differentiation of myoCAFs to suppress T-cell infiltration and antitumor immunity, supporting the potential clinical use of ATM inhibitors in combination with checkpoint inhibition in myoCAF-rich, immune-cold tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Mellone
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Klaudia Piotrowska
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Giulia Venturi
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Lija James
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Aleksandra Bzura
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Maria A. Lopez
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Sonya James
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Chuan Wang
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Cancer Research Centre, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J. Ellis
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher J. Hanley
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Josephine F. Buckingham
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Kerry L. Cox
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Gareth Hughes
- Bioscience, Oncology Innovative Medicines and Early Development (IMED) Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Viia Valge-Archer
- Bioscience, Oncology Innovative Medicines and Early Development (IMED) Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Emma V. King
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen A. Beers
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Vincent Jaquet
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Centre Médical Universitaire, Genève, Switzerland
| | - George D.D. Jones
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Natalia Savelyeva
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Cancer Research Centre, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Emre Sayan
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Jason L. Parsons
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, Cancer Research Centre, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen Durant
- Bioscience, Oncology Innovative Medicines and Early Development (IMED) Biotech Unit, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gareth J. Thomas
- School of Cancer Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
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7
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Ferrari A, Pirrotta L, Bonciani M, Venturi G, Vainieri M. Higher readability of institutional websites drives the correct fruition of the abortion pathway: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277342. [PMID: 36331935 PMCID: PMC9635703 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In Italy, abortion services are public: therefore, health Institutions should provide clear and easily readable web-based information. We aimed to 1) assess variation in abortion services utilisation; 2) analyse the readability of institutional websites informing on induced abortion; 3) explore whether easier-to-read institutional websites influenced the correct fruition of abortion services. Methods We identified from the 2021 administrative databases of Tuscany all women having an abortion, and–among them–women having an abortion with the certification provided by family counselling centres, following the pathway established by law. We assessed variation in total and certified abortion rates by computing the Systematic Component of Variation. We analysed the readability of the Tuscan health authorities’ websites using the readability assessment tool READ-IT. We explored how institutional website readability influenced the odds of having certified abortions by running multilevel logistic models, considering health authorities as the highest-level variables. Results We observed high variation in the correct utilization of the abortion pathway in terms of certified abortion rates. The READ-IT scores showed that the most readable text was from the Florence Teaching Hospital website. Multilevel models revealed that higher READ-IT scores, corresponding to more difficult texts, resulted in lower odds of certified abortions. Conclusions Large variation in the proper fruition of abortion pathways occurs in Tuscany, and such variation may depend on readability of institutional websites informing on induced abortion. Therefore, health Institutions should monitor and improve the readability of their websites to ensure proper and more equitable access to abortion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amerigo Ferrari
- Institute of Management, MeS (Management and Health) Laboratory, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Luca Pirrotta
- Institute of Management, MeS (Management and Health) Laboratory, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
| | - Manila Bonciani
- Institute of Management, MeS (Management and Health) Laboratory, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Institute of Computational Linguistics “A. Zampolli” (ILC-CNR), Italian Natural Language Processing Laboratory (ItaliaNLP Lab), National Research Council, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
| | - Milena Vainieri
- Institute of Management, MeS (Management and Health) Laboratory, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy
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Ferrari P, Becker F, Campani L, Jansen J, Jovanović Z, Krstić D, Mariotti F, Teles P, Venturi G. ON THE PLACEMENT OF APRON DOSEMETERS AND DOSE ASSESSMENT IN INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY PROCEDURES: PRELIMINARY RESULTS. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2022; 198:1495-1499. [PMID: 36156106 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncac188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Personnel involved in interventional practices are likely to be exposed to higher radiation doses than other workers in the medical field. Personnel monitoring and radiation protection measures play a crucial role in keeping these doses below the limits. EURADOS (European Radiation Dosimetry Group) Working Group 12 performed a series of investigations showing how the complexity of the scattered field reaching the operators can influence the doses to the operators. The present work was aimed at determining the possible effects on the registered doses of the scattered field and the actual position of a dosemeter on apron. This study has been performed through Monte Carlo simulations and it was validated through measurements. It does not claim to identify the 'best' position for the dosemeter, but to assess the variability of its response, showing how a variability of the order of +/- 30% to 40 should be taken into account.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ferrari
- ENEA, IRP - Radiation Protection Institute, Bologna (BO), Italy
| | - F Becker
- KIT, Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal, Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - L Campani
- ENEA, IRP - Radiation Protection Institute, Bologna (BO), Italy
| | - J Jansen
- UKHSA, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards, Chilton, UK
| | - Z Jovanović
- Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - D Krstić
- Faculty of Science, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - F Mariotti
- ENEA, IRP - Radiation Protection Institute, Bologna (BO), Italy
| | - P Teles
- Faculty of Science, Physics and Astronomy Department, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - G Venturi
- Medical Physics Department, Ravenna & Forlì Hospitals AUSL Romagna, Forlì (FC), Italy
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9
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Zacchini F, Venturi G, De Sanctis V, Bertorelli R, Ceccarelli C, Santini D, Taffurelli M, Penzo M, Treré D, Inga A, Dassi E, Montanaro L. Human dyskerin binds to cytoplasmic H/ACA-box-containing transcripts affecting nuclear hormone receptor dependence. Genome Biol 2022; 23:177. [PMID: 35996163 PMCID: PMC9394076 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02746-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dyskerin is a nuclear protein involved in H/ACA box snoRNA-guided uridine modification of RNA. In humans, its defective function is associated with cancer development and induces specific post-transcriptional alterations of gene expression. In this study, we seek to unbiasedly identify mRNAs regulated by dyskerin in human breast cancer-derived cells. Results We find that dyskerin depletion affects the expression and the association with polysomes of selected mRNA isoforms characterized by the retention of H/ACA box snoRNA-containing introns. These snoRNA retaining transcripts (snoRTs) are bound by dyskerin in the cytoplasm in the form of shorter 3′ snoRT fragments. We then characterize the whole cytoplasmic dyskerin RNA interactome and find both H/ACA box snoRTs and protein-coding transcripts which may be targeted by the snoRTs’ guide properties. Since a fraction of these protein-coding transcripts is involved in the nuclear hormone receptor binding, we test to see if this specific activity is affected by dyskerin. Obtained results indicate that dyskerin dysregulation may alter the dependence on nuclear hormone receptor ligands in breast cancer cells. These results are paralleled by consistent observations on the outcome of primary breast cancer patients stratified according to their tumor hormonal status. Accordingly, experiments in nude mice show that the reduction of dyskerin levels in estrogen-dependent cells favors xenograft development in the absence of estrogen supplementation. Conclusions Our work suggests a cytoplasmic function for dyskerin which could affect mRNA post-transcriptional networks relevant for nuclear hormone receptor functions. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13059-022-02746-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Zacchini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, I-40138, Bologna, Italy.,Centro di Ricerca Biomedica Applicata - CRBA, Università̀ di Bologna, Policlinico di Sant'Orsola, I-40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, I-40138, Bologna, Italy.,Centro di Ricerca Biomedica Applicata - CRBA, Università̀ di Bologna, Policlinico di Sant'Orsola, I-40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - Veronica De Sanctis
- Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare, Computazionale e Integrata (CIBIO), Università di Trento, I-38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Roberto Bertorelli
- Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare, Computazionale e Integrata (CIBIO), Università di Trento, I-38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Claudio Ceccarelli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, I-40138, Bologna, Italy.,Unità Operativa di Anatomia e Istologia Patologica, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, I-40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - Donatella Santini
- Unità Operativa di Anatomia e Istologia Patologica, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, I-40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mario Taffurelli
- Unità Operativa di Chirurgia Senologica, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, I-40138, Bologna, Italy.,Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, I-40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - Marianna Penzo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, I-40138, Bologna, Italy.,Centro di Ricerca Biomedica Applicata - CRBA, Università̀ di Bologna, Policlinico di Sant'Orsola, I-40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - Davide Treré
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, I-40138, Bologna, Italy.,Departmental Program in Laboratory Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, I-40138, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alberto Inga
- Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare, Computazionale e Integrata (CIBIO), Università di Trento, I-38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Erik Dassi
- Dipartimento di Biologia Cellulare, Computazionale e Integrata (CIBIO), Università di Trento, I-38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Montanaro
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, I-40138, Bologna, Italy. .,Departmental Program in Laboratory Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, I-40138, Bologna, Italy.
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10
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Pirrotta L, Guidotti E, Tramontani C, Bignardelli E, Venturi G, De Rosis S. COVID-19 VACCINATION: AN OVERVIEW OF THE ITALIAN NATIONAL HEALTH SYSTEM ONLINE COMMUNICATION FROM A CITIZEN PERSPECTIVE. Health Policy 2022; 126:970-979. [PMID: 35987784 PMCID: PMC9349029 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy is still widespread. During the pandemic, the internet has been the preferred channel for health-related information, especially for less-educated citizens who tend to be the most hesitant about vaccination. A well-structured web communication strategy could help both to overcome vaccine hesitancy and to ensure equity in healthcare service access. This study investigated how the various regional and local health authorities in Italy used their institutional websites to inform users about COVID-19 vaccinations between March and April 2021. We browsed 129 institutional websites, checking the availability, quality and quantity, actionability and readability of information using a literature-based common grid. Descriptive statistics and statistical tests were performed. The online public dissemination of COVID-19 vaccination information in Italy was fragmented, both across and within regions. The side effects of vaccinations, were often not reported on the websites, thus missing an opportunity to enhance vaccination uptake. More focus should also be placed on readability, since readability indexes showed that they were difficult to understand. Our research revealed that several actions could be implemented to enhance online communication on COVID-19 vaccination. For instance, simplifying texts can make them more understandable and the information reported actionable.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Pirrotta
- Management and Healthcare Laboratory, Institute of Management and Department EMbeDS, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Via S. Zeno, 2, 56127, Pisa, Italy.
| | - E Guidotti
- Management and Healthcare Laboratory, Institute of Management and Department EMbeDS, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Via S. Zeno, 2, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - C Tramontani
- Management and Healthcare Laboratory, Institute of Management and Department EMbeDS, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Via S. Zeno, 2, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - E Bignardelli
- AGENAS, National Agency for Regional Health Services, Via Piemonte, 60, 00187, Roma, Italy
| | - G Venturi
- Italian Natural Language Processing Laboratory (ItaliaNLP Lab), Institute of Computational Linguistics "A. Zampolli" (ILC-CNR), Via G. Moruzzi, 1, 56124, Pisa, Italy
| | - S De Rosis
- Management and Healthcare Laboratory, Institute of Management and Department EMbeDS, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Via S. Zeno, 2, 56127, Pisa, Italy
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11
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Brunato D, Dell'Orletta F, Venturi G. Linguistically-Based Comparison of Different Approaches to Building Corpora for Text Simplification: A Case Study on Italian. Front Psychol 2022; 13:707630. [PMID: 35350726 PMCID: PMC8958033 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.707630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In this paper, we present an overview of existing parallel corpora for Automatic Text Simplification (ATS) in different languages focusing on the approach adopted for their construction. We make the main distinction between manual and (semi)–automatic approaches in order to investigate in which respect complex and simple texts vary and whether and how the observed modifications may depend on the underlying approach. To this end, we perform a two-level comparison on Italian corpora, since this is the only language, with the exception of English, for which there are large parallel resources derived through the two approaches considered. The first level of comparison accounts for the main types of sentence transformations occurring in the simplification process, the second one examines the results of a linguistic profiling analysis based on Natural Language Processing techniques and carried out on the original and the simple version of the same texts. For both levels of analysis, we chose to focus our discussion mostly on sentence transformations and linguistic characteristics that pertain to the morpho-syntactic and syntactic structure of the sentence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Brunato
- ItaliaNLP Lab, Institute for Computational Linguistics "A. Zampolli" (ILC-CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Felice Dell'Orletta
- ItaliaNLP Lab, Institute for Computational Linguistics "A. Zampolli" (ILC-CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Venturi
- ItaliaNLP Lab, Institute for Computational Linguistics "A. Zampolli" (ILC-CNR), Pisa, Italy
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12
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Venturi G, Zacchini F, Vaccari CL, Trerè D, Montanaro L. Primer extension coupled with fragment analysis for rapid and quantitative evaluation of 5.8S rRNA isoforms. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0261476. [PMID: 34932578 PMCID: PMC8691633 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0261476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The ribosomal RNA 5.8S is one of the four rRNAs that constitute ribosomes. In human cells, like in all eukaryotes, it derives from the extensive processing of a long precursor containing the sequence of 18S, 5.8S and 28S rRNAs. It has been confirmed also in human cells the presence of three isoforms of 5.8S rRNA: one more abundant called 5.8S short, one called 5.8S long bearing 5 extra-nucleotides at its 5’ end and one 10 nucleotide shorter called 5.8S cropped. So far, little is known about 5.8S long specific role in cell biology and its function in human pathology. The lack of studies on the three 5.8S isoforms could be due to the techniques usually applied to study ribosome biogenesis, such as Northern blot with radioactively labelled probes, that require strict protective measures, and abundant and high-quality samples. To overcome this issue, we optimized a method that combines primer extension with a fluorescently labeled reverse primer designed on the 3’ of 5.8S rRNA sequence and fragment analysis. The resulting electropherogram shows the peaks corresponding to the three isoforms of 5.8S rRNA. The estimation of the area underneath the peaks allows to directly quantify the isoforms and to express their relative abundance. The relative abundance of 5.8S long and 5.8S short remains constant using scalar dilution of RNA and in samples subjected to partial degradation. 5.8S cropped abundance varies significantly in lower concentrate RNA samples. This method allows to analyze rapidly and safely the abundance of 5.8S rRNA isoforms in samples that have been so far considered not suitable such as poorly concentrated samples, RNA derived from frozen tissue or unique samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Venturi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum—Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italia
- Centro di Ricerca Biomedica Applicata–CRBA, Università̀ di Bologna, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola, Bologna, Italia
| | - Federico Zacchini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum—Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italia
- Centro di Ricerca Biomedica Applicata–CRBA, Università̀ di Bologna, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola, Bologna, Italia
| | - Cinzia Lucia Vaccari
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum—Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italia
- Centro di Ricerca Biomedica Applicata–CRBA, Università̀ di Bologna, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola, Bologna, Italia
| | - Davide Trerè
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum—Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italia
- Programma Dipartimentale di Medicina di Laboratorio, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italia
| | - Lorenzo Montanaro
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES), Alma Mater Studiorum—Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italia
- Centro di Ricerca Biomedica Applicata–CRBA, Università̀ di Bologna, Policlinico di Sant’Orsola, Bologna, Italia
- Programma Dipartimentale di Medicina di Laboratorio, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italia
- * E-mail:
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Ravaglia V, Angelini L, Bertolini M, Della Gala G, Fabbri C, Fabbri S, Farnedi S, Vacchieri I, Golinelli P, Guerra G, Ortenzia O, Pagan L, Savini A, Scrittori N, Venturi G. Small-size details detection performance of digital breast tomosynthesis, synthetic 2D and conventional full-field digital mammography images for different mammography systems: a multicenter study. Phys Med 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/s1120-1797(22)00240-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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14
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Ravaglia V, Angelini L, Bertolini M, Della Gala G, Fabbri C, Fabbri S, Farnedi S, Vacchieri I, Guerra G, Lorenzini E, Mazzocchi S, Niespolo A, Ortenzia O, Pagan L, Quattrocchi M, Savini A, Scrittori N, Venturi G, Golinelli P. Average glandular dose in digital breast tomosynthesis systems: a multicenter study. Phys Med 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/s1120-1797(22)00239-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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15
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Wavelet-Vermuse C, Groux-Degroote S, Vicogne D, Cogez V, Venturi G, Trinchera M, Brysbaert G, Krzewinski-Recchi MA, Hadj Bachir E, Schulz C, Vincent A, Van Seuningen I, Harduin-Lepers A. Analysis of the proximal promoter of the human colon-specific B4GALNT2 (Sd a synthase) gene: B4GALNT2 is transcriptionally regulated by ETS1. Biochim Biophys Acta Gene Regul Mech 2021; 1864:194747. [PMID: 34500083 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2021.194747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Sda antigen and corresponding biosynthetic enzyme B4GALNT2 are primarily expressed in normal colonic mucosa and are down-regulated to a variable degree in colon cancer tissues. Although their expression profile is well studied, little is known about the underlying regulatory mechanisms. METHODS To clarify the molecular basis of Sda expression in the human gastrointestinal tract, we investigated the transcriptional regulation of the human B4GALNT2 gene. The proximal promoter region was delineated using luciferase assays and essential trans-acting factors were identified through transient overexpression and silencing of several transcription factors. RESULTS A short cis-regulatory region restricted to the -72 to +12 area upstream of the B4GALNT2 short-type transcript variant contained the essential promoter activity that drives the expression of the human B4GALNT2 regardless of the cell type. We further showed that B4GALNT2 transcriptional activation mostly requires ETS1 and to a lesser extent SP1. CONCLUSIONS Results presented herein are expected to provide clues to better understand B4GALNT2 regulatory mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Wavelet-Vermuse
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576 - UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Sophie Groux-Degroote
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576 - UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Dorothée Vicogne
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576 - UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Virginie Cogez
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576 - UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), General Pathology Building, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Trinchera
- Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Guillaume Brysbaert
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576 - UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, F-59000 Lille, France
| | | | - Elsa Hadj Bachir
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020 - U1277 - CANTHER - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Céline Schulz
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576 - UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Audrey Vincent
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020 - U1277 - CANTHER - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Isabelle Van Seuningen
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, UMR9020 - U1277 - CANTHER - Cancer Heterogeneity, Plasticity and Resistance to Therapies, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Anne Harduin-Lepers
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576 - UGSF - Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, F-59000 Lille, France.
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16
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Mattei G, Leone E, Venturi G, Pingani L, Ferrari S, Galeazzi GM, De Vogli R. L'associazione tra fumo di tabacco e crisi economiche in Italia. Epidemiol Prev 2021; 45:189-195. [PMID: 34212700 DOI: 10.19191/ep21.3.p189.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES to analyse the association between smoking behaviour and economic crises in Italy between 1993 and 2015. DESIGN ecological study, carried out on data of the Italian National Institute of Statistics, by means of fixed-effect panel regressions. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS the rate of smoking prevalence (disaggregated by gender and age) and the unemployment rate (disaggregated by gender and referring to individuals aged 15 or more) were collected for each of the twenty Italian regions. Also, percentage fluctuations of the national real gross domestic product (GDP) were collected to identify the years of severe economic crisis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES number of people who smoke per 100 people with the same features. RESULTS among men, increased regional unemployment rate was associated with increased smoking behaviour only in the group aged 25-34 years. Differently, severe economic crises were associated with increased smoking in almost all age groups, except for men aged 15-24 years. A 1-point decrease in GDP was associated with 0.75 more smokers aged 15 years or more. The highest coefficient was reported among men aged 35-44 years, where a 1-point decrease in GDP was associated with 1.16 more smokers (every 100 men). This age group is also featured by the second highest prevalence of tobacco smoking (36.8%). Among women, a 1-point increase in the regional unemployment rate was associated with 0.08 less smokers every 100 women. Similarly, periods of severe economic crisis at national level were associated with reduced smoking behaviour among women aged 15 years or more, specifically those aged 15-24 years. Differently, women aged 25-34 and 65 years or more showed an association similar to that reported among men. In these groups, a 1-point decrease in GDP was associated with 0.67 and 1.08 more smokers every 100 women. While among the latter the prevalence of tobacco smoking is the lowest, among the former it is the third highest prevalence (21.69%). Therefore, increased smoking behaviour due to economic crises seems to occur especially among women aged 25-35 years old, as happens among men. CONCLUSIONS men in almost all age groups and women aged 25-34 and 65 years or more represent vulnerable groups in which smoking behaviour may increase in times of economic hardship. Therefore, specific policies should be implemented to prevent this occurrence, as well as the negative health outcomes of tobacco smoking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Mattei
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena (Italy).,PhD School in Labour, Development and Innovation, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia - Marco Biagi Foundation, Modena (Italy).,Association for Research in Psychiatry, Castelnuovo Rangone (Italy)
| | - Emilia Leone
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena (Italy)
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena (Italy)
| | - Luca Pingani
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena (Italy).,Department of Health Professions, Azienda USL - IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia (Italy)
| | - Silvia Ferrari
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena (Italy).,Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addiction, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia (Italy)
| | - Gian Maria Galeazzi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena (Italy).,Department of Mental Health and Pathological Addiction, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia (Italy)
| | - Roberto De Vogli
- Department of Social Psychology and Development, University of Padova, Padova (Italy).,Human Rights Centre, University of Padova, Padova (Italy)
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Gasperoni S, Papi L, Castiglione F, Gensini F, Sestini R, Messerini L, Bartoli C, Nozzoli F, Dimarino M, Cianchi F, Taddei A, Ferrara A, Calistri M, Bencini L, Perna F, Catalano M, Giorgione R, Winchler C, Venturi G, Mini E. Germline mutations in MSH2 and ATM gene in patients with GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumor) and second epitelial tumors. J Clin Oncol 2021. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.e23520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
e23520 Background: In adult GISTs are frequently sporadic, while rarely GISTs are linked to Carney Triad and Carney-Stratakis Syndrome and NF1. GISTs with second primary tumors are reported in 4-33% of patients in literature and genetic counseling is suggested to explore an underlying germline mutations pathway. Methods: In our Academic Hospital Centre (EURACAN member) in Florence, Italy, we are following patients with GIST and multiple primary tumors with genetic counseling (72 GISTs with second tumors/185 patients with GIST) and germline analysis of the following genetic panel is performed as clinically indicated: BRCA1, BRCA2, MUTYH, MLH1, MSH2, MSH6, CDH1, ATM, TP53, PTEN, CHECK2, PALB2, BARD1, BRIP1, BLM, RAD51C, RAD51D, XRCC2, PMS2, MRE11A, RAD50, NBN, FAM175A, EPKAM, TSK1, MEN1 by sequencing analysis with Illumina MiSeq by kit multiplicom BRCA Hereditary cancer Mastr plus, and bioinformatic analysis by software SOPHIADDM (Sophia genetics) for point genetic alterations of BRCA1 NM_007294.3, BRCA2 NM_000059.3, MUTYH NM_000249, MSH2 NM_000251, MSH6 NM_000179, CDH1 NM_00444360, ATM NM_000051, TP53 NM_000546, PTEN NM_000314, CHEK2 NM_001005735, PALB2 NM_024675, BARD1 NM_000465, BRIP1 NM_032043, BLM NM_000057, RAD51C NM_002876, RAD51D NM_001142571, XRCC2 NM_005431, PMS2 NM_000535, MRE11A NM_005590, RAD50 NM_006732, NBN NM_002485, FAM175A NM_139076, EPCAM NM_002354, STK1 NM_000455, MEN1 NM_000244 and MLPA (Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification) test analysis for patients with kit P087-BRCA1,P045-BRCA2(CHEK2, P248-MLH1-MSH2, P003-MLH1/MSH2, P072-MSH6-MUTYH (MRC-Holland). Results: In 3 patients germline mutations have been observed: 1 patient showed the c.1192dupG, p.(Ala398Glyfs*19) pathogenic mutation in exon 7 of MSH2 gene, confirmed by Sanger Sequencing, 1 patient showed c.565-?_1130+?del mutation consisting in heterozygous 3-4-5-6 exons deletion of MSH2 gene, confirmed by MLPA analysis, and in 1 patient the following ATM alteration has been identified in heterozygosis: ATM c.5319+2T > C, p.(?). In the 2 patients with Lynch syndrome with colon adenocarcinoma (MSI-H), synchronous GISTs (1 patient quadruple WT and 1 patient kit ex 11 mutated ) were diagnosed; in the patient with ATM mutation, the diagnosis of GIST (kit ex 11 mutated) occurred after prostate adenocarcinoma and before colon adenocarcinoma (MSI-H). Conclusions: Our analysis suggests that GIST diagnosis could be tumor-related to multiple hereditary tumor syndromes as Lynch Syndrome and Ataxia-Teleangectasia syndrome, the latter being linked in eterozygosis to tumor susceptibility to breast in female. This report represents a high value in terms of genetic counseling for relatives and in terms of therapeutic implications for the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Gasperoni
- Department of Oncology and Robotic Surgery, Traslational Oncology Unit, Florence, Italy
| | - Laura Papi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio” Medical Genetics Unit University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Castiglione
- Pathological Histology and Molecular Diagnostics Unit, University Hospital Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Francesca Gensini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio” Medical Genetics Unit, Florence, Italy
| | - Roberta Sestini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio” Medical Genetics Unit, Florence, Italy
| | - Luca Messerini
- Experimental and Clinic Department, University Hospital Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Filippo Nozzoli
- Pathological Histology and Molecular Diagnostics Unit, University Hospital Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Michele Dimarino
- Surgical Oncology and Robotics, Department of Oncology and Robotics University Hospital Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Fabio Cianchi
- Division of Digestive Surgery, University Hospital Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Antonio Taddei
- Hepatobiliary Surgery, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Angelo Ferrara
- Surgical Oncology and Robotics, Department of Oncology and Robotics, University Hospital Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Massimo Calistri
- Surgical Oncology and Robotics, Department of Oncology and Robotics University Hospital Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Lapo Bencini
- Surgical Oncology and Robotics, Department of Oncology and Robotics University Hospital Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Federico Perna
- Surgical Oncology and Robotics, Department of Oncology and Robotics University Hospital Careggi, Florence, Italy
| | - Martina Catalano
- School of Human Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Roberta Giorgione
- School of Human Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Costanza Winchler
- School of Human Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Giulia Venturi
- School of Human Health Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Enrico Mini
- Department of Health Sciences, Section of Clinical Pharmacology and Oncology, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
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18
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Di Lorenzo R, Girone A, Panzera N, Fiore G, Pinelli M, Venturi G, Magarini F, Ferri P. Empathy and perceived burden in caregivers of patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. BMC Health Serv Res 2021; 21:250. [PMID: 33740963 PMCID: PMC7980555 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-021-06258-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Caregivers of patients load different kinds of burdens, including emotional distress. Aims of this study were to evaluate both burden and empathy of caregivers who assist patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders. METHODS We selected a sample of 60 caregivers (34 women and 26 men), who assisted patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders treated in our local Community Mental Health Center for a 1-year minimum period. We administered two scales to our sample, Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) and Balanced Emotional Empathy Scale (BEES), and collected data of caregivers and their assisted patients in a 3-month period. Data were statistically analyzed. RESULTS We reported a mean ZBI score of 49.68 (±15.03 SD) and a mean BEES score of 14.35 (±9.05 SD), indicating the perception of moderate-severe burden and low level of empathy, respectively. The analysis of internal consistency confirmed the good reliability of both ZBI (Cronbach's alpha = 0.90) and BEES (Cronbach's alpha = 0.77). The correlation between the two scales was not statistically significant at Spearman test. At our multiple linear regression, many variables of both caregiver and patient showed a significant correlation with the ZBI score. In particular, not living with the assisted patient and female gender of caregiver potentially decreased the burden, whereas clinical severity of assisted patient and two caregiver conditions, middle school education and spouse relationship with patient, could worsen the burden. We highlighted two positive statistically significant correlations between the total score of BEES and caregiver characteristics: being spouse and not living with assisted patient. CONCLUSIONS Our study highlights that the caregiver burden of patients with severe psychiatric disorders is high and is associated with low emotional empathy experienced by caregivers, probably due to a defensive psychological mechanism. The conditions of spouse and cohabitation can concomitantly increase both empathy and burden in caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosaria Di Lorenzo
- Psychiatric Intensive Treatment Facility, Mental Health and Drug Abuse Department of AUSL-Modena, Via Paul Harris, 175, 41122, Modena, Italy.
| | - Anna Girone
- Casa Famiglia Querce di Mamre Centro Socio Riabilitativo Residenziale, Fondazione Casa Famiglia Mattioli Garavini- Onlus, Via Statutaria, 44, 42013, Casalgrande, Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Nunzio Panzera
- School of Nursing, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via del Pozzo, 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Gianluca Fiore
- Resident in Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via del Pozzo, 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Margherita Pinelli
- Resident in Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via del Pozzo, 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Resident in Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via del Pozzo, 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Federica Magarini
- Resident in Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via del Pozzo, 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Paola Ferri
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, via Campi, 287, 41125, Modena, Italy
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Alfano G, Ferrari A, Fontana F, Perrone R, Mori G, Ascione E, Magistroni R, Venturi G, Pederzoli S, Margiotta G, Romeo M, Piccinini F, Franceschi G, Volpi S, Faltoni M, Ciusa G, Bacca E, Tutone M, Raimondi A, Menozzi M, Franceschini E, Cuomo G, Orlando G, Santoro A, Di Gaetano M, Puzzolante C, Carli F, Bedini A, Milic J, Meschiari M, Mussini C, Cappelli G, Guaraldi G. Hypokalemia in Patients with COVID-19. Clin Exp Nephrol 2021; 25:401-409. [PMID: 33398605 PMCID: PMC7781399 DOI: 10.1007/s10157-020-01996-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with COVID-19 experience multiple clinical conditions that may cause electrolyte imbalances. Hypokalemia is a concerning electrolyte disorder closely associated with severe complications. This study aimed to estimate prevalence, risk factors and outcome of hypokalemia in a cohort of patients with confirmed COVID-19. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on 290 non-ICU admitted patients with COVID-19 at the tertiary teaching hospital of Modena, Italy, from February 16 to April 14, 2020. RESULTS Hypokalemia was detected in 119 out of 290 patients (41%) during hospitalization. Mean serum potassium was 3.1 ± 0.1 meq/L. The majority of patients (90.7%) patients experienced only a mild decrease in serum potassium level (3-3.4 mEq/L). Hypokalemia was associated with hypocalcemia, which was detected in 50% of subjects. Urine potassium-to-creatinine ratio, measured in a small number of patients (n = 45; 36.1%), revealed an increase of urinary potassium excretion in most cases (95.5%). Risk factors for hypokalemia were female sex (odds ratio (OR) 2.44; 95% CI 1.36-4.37; P 0.003) and diuretic therapy (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.08-3.48; P 0.027). Hypokalemia, adjusted for sex, age and SOFA score, was not associated with ICU transfer (OR 0.52; 95% CI 0.228-1.212; P = 0.131), in-hospital mortality (OR, 0.47; 95% CI 0.170-1.324; P = 0.154) and composite outcome of ICU transfer or in-hospital mortality (OR 0.48; 95% CI 0.222-1.047; P = 0.065) in our cohort of patients. CONCLUSIONS Hypokalemia was a frequent disorder in subjects with COVID-19. Female sex and diuretic therapy were identified as risk factors for low serum potassium levels. Hypokalemia was unrelated to ICU transfer and death in this cohort of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Alfano
- Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences, Section of Nephrology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via del Pozzo 71, 41124, Modena, Italy.
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy.
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine Ph.D. Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
| | - Annachiara Ferrari
- Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences, Section of Nephrology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via del Pozzo 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Francesco Fontana
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Rossella Perrone
- Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences, Section of Nephrology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via del Pozzo 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
| | - Giacomo Mori
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Ascione
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Riccardo Magistroni
- Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences, Section of Nephrology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via del Pozzo 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Simone Pederzoli
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia,, Modena, Italy
| | - Gianluca Margiotta
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia,, Modena, Italy
| | - Marilina Romeo
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia,, Modena, Italy
| | - Francesca Piccinini
- Unit of Endocrinology, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia,, Modena, Italy
| | - Giacomo Franceschi
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Sara Volpi
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Matteo Faltoni
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Giacomo Ciusa
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Erica Bacca
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Marco Tutone
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Marianna Menozzi
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Erica Franceschini
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Gianluca Cuomo
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Gabriella Orlando
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Antonella Santoro
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | | | - Cinzia Puzzolante
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Federica Carli
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Andrea Bedini
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Jovana Milic
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine Ph.D. Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Marianna Meschiari
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Cristina Mussini
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Gianni Cappelli
- Surgical, Medical and Dental Department of Morphological Sciences, Section of Nephrology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, via del Pozzo 71, 41124, Modena, Italy
- Nephrology, Dialysis and Transplant Unit, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - Giovanni Guaraldi
- Clinic of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital of Modena, Modena, Italy
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Venturi G, Montanaro L. How Altered Ribosome Production Can Cause or Contribute to Human Disease: The Spectrum of Ribosomopathies. Cells 2020; 9:E2300. [PMID: 33076379 PMCID: PMC7602531 DOI: 10.3390/cells9102300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A number of different defects in the process of ribosome production can lead to a diversified spectrum of disorders that are collectively identified as ribosomopathies. The specific factors involved may either play a role only in ribosome biogenesis or have additional extra-ribosomal functions, making it difficult to ascribe the pathogenesis of the disease specifically to an altered ribosome biogenesis, even if the latter is clearly affected. We reviewed the available literature in the field from this point of view with the aim of distinguishing, among ribosomopathies, the ones due to specific alterations in the process of ribosome production from those characterized by a multifactorial pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Venturi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
- Center for Applied Biomedical Research, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Montanaro
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy;
- Center for Applied Biomedical Research, Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138 Bologna, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Via Albertoni 15, 40138 Bologna, Italy
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21
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Mattei G, Venturi G, Alfieri S, Colombini N, Ferrari S, Rigatelli M, Starace F, Galeazzi GM. Clinical and Socio-demographic Variables Associated with the Outcome of Vocational Rehabilitation Programs: A Community-Based Italian Study. Community Ment Health J 2020; 56:1380-1390. [PMID: 32086675 DOI: 10.1007/s10597-020-00577-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
This study aims to identify clinical and socio-demographic variables associated with the outcome of vocational rehabilitation programs (VRPs). All users of an Italian Community Mental Health Centre (CMHC) included in VRPs delivered according to the model of Supported Employment in years 2011-2016 were retrospectively enrolled. Fifty users who ended the program with employment were compared with fifty users who dropped out, with respect to clinical and socio-demographic variables. VRPs lasting less than 6 months and oriented toward the competitive labor market had a higher probability of employment. Among users who successfully ended the VRP, the median of health interventions significantly decreased after employment. In the same group of users, less non-health interventions strictly linked to the VRP were required, when compared with users who dropped out. We conclude that employment is associated with improvement of users' clinical conditions and reduced workload for the CMHC.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Mattei
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. .,Ph.D. School in Labor, Development and Innovation, "Marco Biagi" Department of Economics & Marco Biagi Foundation, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. .,Association for Research in Psychiatry, Castelnuovo Rangone, Modena, Italy.
| | - G Venturi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - S Alfieri
- Department of Mental Health & Drug Abuse, AUSL Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - N Colombini
- Department of Mental Health & Drug Abuse, AUSL Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - S Ferrari
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.,Department of Mental Health & Drug Abuse, AUSL Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - M Rigatelli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - F Starace
- Department of Mental Health & Drug Abuse, AUSL Modena, Modena, Italy
| | - G M Galeazzi
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, Section of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.,Department of Mental Health & Drug Abuse, AUSL Modena, Modena, Italy
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22
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Cesaroni G, Venturi G, Paglione L, Angelici L, Marino C, Davoli M, Agabiti N. Mortality inequalities in Rome: the role of individual education and real estate market. Eur J Public Health 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckaa166.317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Several indicators at individual and area level have been used to stratify the population. The aim of this work was to investigate the association between real estate prices, education and health status in Rome.
Methods
We used the administrative cohort of residents in Rome at the 2011 census. We followed subjects aged 18+ from 2011 to 2016 using anonymous record linkage procedures with administrative databases. The census includes several individual information, comprising sex, age, education, and residential urbanistic zone. From mortality register we collected date and cause of death. Real estate prices (€/m2) were available for each urbanistic zone. We classified the population in five categories according to the quintile of the distribution (1=highest prices, 5=lowest prices). We used adjusted Cox regression models to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95%CIs.
Results
We selected 2,053,668 subjects, not living in institutions at the time of the census survey. Women were 54% of the population; the mean age was 52 years (sd 18), 22.5% had a high education (university degree) and 37% a low education (≤ junior high school). During the follow-up, 126,548 subjects died. As expected educational level was strongly associated with all-cause mortality (39% higher risk of low vs. high educated). The mortality risk increased with decreasing real estate prices, taking account of age and sex. Compared to subjects living in highest prices areas, those living in level 2 areas had a HR = 1.08 (95%CI: 1.06-1.10), those in level 3 had a HR = 1.14 (95%CI: 1.12-1.16), those in level 4 a HR = 1.16 (95%CI 1.14-1.18), and finally those living in the cheapest areas a HR = 1.22 (95%CI: 1.20-1.25). When we considered both education and real estate prizes, the HRs marginally decreased.
Conclusions
There is an independent association of both individual education and socioeconomic characteristics of the area of residence and all-cause mortality.
Key messages
There are strong socioeconomic inequalities in Rome. A simple indicator such as real estate prices can be used to tackle inequalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Cesaroni
- Department Epidemiology Regional Health Service-ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy
| | | | - L Paglione
- Department Epidemiology Regional Health Service-ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy
- Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - L Angelici
- Department Epidemiology Regional Health Service-ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy
| | - C Marino
- Department Epidemiology Regional Health Service-ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy
| | - M Davoli
- Department Epidemiology Regional Health Service-ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy
| | - N Agabiti
- Department Epidemiology Regional Health Service-ASL Roma 1, Rome, Italy
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De Rosis S, Guidotti E, Zuccarino S, Venturi G, Ferré F. Waiting time information in the Italian NHS: A citizen perspective. Health Policy 2020; 124:796-804. [PMID: 32624247 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthpol.2020.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Public involvement in the management and communication of waiting times is known to support initiatives to reduce waiting times, as well as increase fairness and promote transparency and accountability. In order to improve transparency and communication to citizens, Italy recently updated the National Regulatory Plan for Waiting Lists (2019-2021), which calls for the disclosure of waiting time information on healthcare provider webpages. This study analyses waiting time information for outpatient visits and digital services available on the institutional website pages of 144 public healthcare organisations in nine regions and two autonomous provinces of Italy. Web pages were analysed both in terms of the available information/services, using a grid, and in terms of the quality of the text using an advanced readability assessment tool (READ-IT). This information was complemented and validated by regional healthcare key informants during research-specific workshops. Waiting time information disclosure, digital services and text readability varied both within and between the regional healthcare systems and organisations. The types and characteristics of waiting time information and statistics vary considerably with a negative impact on their use for benchmarking and their readability and usability for booking purposes. Overall, communication weaknesses due to low harmonization and clarity of information can undermine efforts in effectively informing and involving the public through online waiting time data disclosure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabina De Rosis
- Management and Health Laboratory, Institute of Management and Department EMbeDS, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elisa Guidotti
- Management and Health Laboratory, Institute of Management and Department EMbeDS, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Sara Zuccarino
- Management and Health Laboratory, Institute of Management and Department EMbeDS, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Italian Natural Language Processing Laboratory (ItaliaNLP Lab), Institute of Computational Linguistics "A. Zampolli" (ILC-CNR), Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesca Ferré
- Management and Health Laboratory, Institute of Management and Department EMbeDS, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
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24
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Venturi G, Gomes Ferreira I, Pucci M, Ferracin M, Malagolini N, Chiricolo M, Dall'Olio F. Impact of sialyltransferase ST6GAL1 overexpression on different colon cancer cell types. Glycobiology 2020; 29:684-695. [PMID: 31317190 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwz053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2019] [Accepted: 07/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated glycan structures can be both tumor markers and engines of disease progression. The structure Siaα2,6Galβ1,4GlcNAc (Sia6LacNAc), synthesized by sialyltransferase ST6GAL1, is a cancer-associated glycan. Although ST6GAL1/Sia6LacNAc are often overexpressed in colorectal cancer (CRC), their biological and clinical significance remains unclear. To get insights into the clinical relevance of ST6GAL1 expression in CRC, we interrogated The Cancer Genome Atlas with mRNA expression data of hundreds of clinically characterized CRC and normal samples. We found an association of low ST6GAL1 expression with microsatellite instability (MSI), BRAF mutations and mucinous phenotype but not with stage, response to therapy and survival. To investigate the impact of ST6GAL1 expression in experimental systems, we analyzed the transcriptome and the phenotype of the CRC cell lines SW948 and SW48 after retroviral transduction with ST6GAL1 cDNA. The two cell lines display the two main pathways of CRC transformation: chromosomal instability and MSI, respectively. Constitutive ST6GAL1 expression induced much deeper transcriptomic changes in SW948 than in SW48 and affected different genes in the two cell lines. ST6GAL1 expression affected differentially the tyrosine phosphorylation induced by hepatocyte growth factor, the ability to grow in soft agar, to heal a scratch wound and to invade Matrigel in the two cell lines. These results indicate that the altered expression of a cancer-associated glycosyltransferase impacts the gene expression profile, as well as the phenotype, although in a cancer subtype-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Venturi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, General Pathology Building, University of Bologna Via S. Giacomo 14, Bologna, Italy
| | - Inês Gomes Ferreira
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, General Pathology Building, University of Bologna Via S. Giacomo 14, Bologna, Italy
| | - Michela Pucci
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, General Pathology Building, University of Bologna Via S. Giacomo 14, Bologna, Italy
| | - Manuela Ferracin
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, General Pathology Building, University of Bologna Via S. Giacomo 14, Bologna, Italy
| | - Nadia Malagolini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, General Pathology Building, University of Bologna Via S. Giacomo 14, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mariella Chiricolo
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, General Pathology Building, University of Bologna Via S. Giacomo 14, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Dall'Olio
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, General Pathology Building, University of Bologna Via S. Giacomo 14, Bologna, Italy
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25
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Salvadori M, Audino E, Venturi G, Garo ML, Salgarello S. Antibiotic prescribing for endodontic infections: a survey of dental students in Italy. Int Endod J 2019; 52:1388-1396. [DOI: 10.1111/iej.13126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Salvadori
- Department of Medical and Surgery Specialties Radiological Sciences and Public Health, School of Dentistry Brescia University Brescia Italy
| | - E. Audino
- Department of Medical and Surgery Specialties Radiological Sciences and Public Health, School of Dentistry Brescia University Brescia Italy
| | - G. Venturi
- Department of Medical and Surgery Specialties Radiological Sciences and Public Health, School of Dentistry Brescia University Brescia Italy
| | | | - S. Salgarello
- Department of Medical and Surgery Specialties Radiological Sciences and Public Health, School of Dentistry Brescia University Brescia Italy
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26
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Mattei G, Sacchi V, Alfieri S, Bisi A, Colombini N, Ferrari S, Giubbarelli G, Gobba F, Modenese A, Pingani L, Rigatelli M, Rossetti M, Venturi G, Starace F, Galeazzi GM. Stakeholders' views on vocational rehabilitation programs: a call for collaboration with Occupational Health Physicians. Med Lav 2018; 109:201-9. [PMID: 29943751 PMCID: PMC7689794 DOI: 10.23749/mdl.v109i3.6844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The triple-dip recession taking place in Italy in 2008-2014 impacted negatively on health, mainly by increasing the rate of unemployment. This increased the prevalence of mental health disorders, while reducing the number of available places on vocational rehabilitation programs (VRPs) delivered by the psychiatric services. OBJECTIVES To explore the different points of views of stakeholders (namely, users and professionals) involved in VRPs developed inside an Italian Community Mental Health Center (CMHC). METHODS A sample of users, psychiatrists, educators and nurses of an Italian CMHC involved in VRPs took part in a focus group. Content analysis was performed with MAXQDA 12, by developing a hierarchical code system a posteriori (i.e., derived from the data). The respondent validation phase was carried out by means of a multiple-choice questionnaire, administered to all participants. RESULTS A total of 86 emerging issues were coded, divided into two macro-areas: Positive and Negative Reinforcements (48 contributions, 56%, and 38 contributions, 44%, respectively), further subdivided into three areas: professional (service) factors, personal (i.e, user-related) factors, and work environment features (including relationships in the workplace). Some contributions raised issues concerning occupational health protection (e.g. need of information about the rights and duties of the users-workers, as well as the risks they are exposed to in the workplace). CONCLUSIONS The analysis suggested to address specific issues concerning work and VRPs by means of psycho-education group interventions currently carried out at CMHCs, and pointed to the need to foster collaboration between mental health professionals and the occupational health physician of the company where the VRP is started and where the user might be employed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Mattei
- Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy and "Marco Biagi" Department of Economics and Marco Biagi Foundation, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy and Association for Research in Psychiatry, Castelnuovo Rangone (Modena), Italy.
| | - Valentina Sacchi
- Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy - Via del Pozzo, 71 - 41124 Modena (Italy).
| | - Salvatore Alfieri
- Department of Mental Health and Drug Abuse, AUSL Modena, Modena, Italy.
| | - Antonella Bisi
- Department of Mental Health and Drug Abuse, AUSL Modena, Modena, Italy.
| | - Niccolò Colombini
- Department of Mental Health and Drug Abuse, AUSL Modena, Modena, Italy.
| | - Silvia Ferrari
- Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy - Via del Pozzo, 71 - 41124 Modena (Italy).
| | - Giuseppe Giubbarelli
- Occupational Health Medicine Unit, Sassuolo General Hospital, Sassuolo (Modena), Italy - Via F. Ruini 2 - 41049 Sassuolo (Modena).
| | - Fabriziomaria Gobba
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy - Via G. Campi, 287 - 41125 Modena (Italy).
| | - Alberto Modenese
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy - Via G. Campi, 287 - 41125 Modena (Italy).
| | - Luca Pingani
- Human Resources, Local Health Agency, Via Giovanni Amendola, 2 - 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy..
| | - Marco Rigatelli
- Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy - Via del Pozzo, 71 - 41124 Modena (Italy).
| | - Marisa Rossetti
- Department of Mental Health and Drug Abuse, AUSL Modena, Modena, Italy.
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy - Via del Pozzo, 71 - 41124 Modena (Italy).
| | - Fabrizio Starace
- Department of Mental Health and Drug Abuse, AUSL Modena, Modena, Italy.
| | - Gian Maria Galeazzi
- Department of Diagnostic, Clinical and Public Health Medicine, Section of Psychiatry, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy - Via del Pozzo, 71 - 41124 Modena (Italy).
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Severino PF, Silva M, Carrascal M, Malagolini N, Chiricolo M, Venturi G, Barbaro Forleo R, Astolfi A, Catera M, Videira PA, Dall'Olio F. Oxidative damage and response to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin in bladder cancer cells expressing sialyltransferase ST3GAL1. BMC Cancer 2018; 18:198. [PMID: 29454317 PMCID: PMC5816560 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-018-4107-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Treatment with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the gold standard adjuvant immunotherapy of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC), although it fails in one third of the patients. NMIBC expresses two tumor-associated O-linked carbohydrates: the disaccharide (Galβ1,3GalNAc) Thomsen-Friedenreich (T) antigen, and its sialylated counterpart (Siaα2,3Galβ1,3GalNAc) sialyl-T (sT), synthesized by sialyltransferase ST3GAL1, whose roles in BCG response are unknown. Methods The human bladder cancer (BC) cell line HT1376 strongly expressing the T antigen, was retrovirally transduced with the ST3GAL1 cDNA or with an empty vector, yielding the cell lines HT1376sT and HT1376T, that express, respectively, either the sT or the T antigens. Cells were in vitro challenged with BCG. Whole gene expression was studied by microarray technology, cytokine secretion was measured by multiplex immune-beads assay. Human macrophages derived from blood monocytes were challenged with the secretome of BCG-challenged BC cells. Results The secretome from BCG-challenged HT1376sT cells induced a stronger macrophage secretion of IL-6, IL-1β, TNFα and IL-10 than that of HT1376T cells. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that ST3GAL1 overexpression and T/sT replacement modulated hundreds of genes. Several genes preserving genomic stability were down-regulated in HT1376sT cells which, as a consequence, displayed increased sensitivity to oxidative damage. After BCG challenge, the transcriptome of HT1376sT cells showed higher susceptibility to BCG modulation than that of HT1376T cells. Conclusions High ST3GAL1 expression and T/sT replacement in BCG challenged-BC cancer cells induce a stronger macrophage response and alter the gene expression towards genomic instability, indicating a potential impact on BC biology and patient’s response to BCG. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12885-018-4107-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo F Severino
- Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas, CEDOC, NOVA Medical School/Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130, 1169-056, Lisbon, Portugal.,Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Sede di Patologia Generale, Università di Bologna, Via S. Giacomo 14, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mariana Silva
- Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas, CEDOC, NOVA Medical School/Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130, 1169-056, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Mylene Carrascal
- Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas, CEDOC, NOVA Medical School/Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130, 1169-056, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Nadia Malagolini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Sede di Patologia Generale, Università di Bologna, Via S. Giacomo 14, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mariella Chiricolo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Sede di Patologia Generale, Università di Bologna, Via S. Giacomo 14, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Sede di Patologia Generale, Università di Bologna, Via S. Giacomo 14, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberto Barbaro Forleo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Sede di Patologia Generale, Università di Bologna, Via S. Giacomo 14, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Annalisa Astolfi
- Centro Interdipartimentale Ricerche sul Cancro "Giorgio Prodi", Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mariangela Catera
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Sede di Patologia Generale, Università di Bologna, Via S. Giacomo 14, 40126, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paula A Videira
- Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas, CEDOC, NOVA Medical School/Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130, 1169-056, Lisbon, Portugal. .,UCIBIO, Departamento Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal.
| | - Fabio Dall'Olio
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Sede di Patologia Generale, Università di Bologna, Via S. Giacomo 14, 40126, Bologna, Italy.
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Ferreira IG, Pucci M, Venturi G, Malagolini N, Chiricolo M, Dall'Olio F. Glycosylation as a Main Regulator of Growth and Death Factor Receptors Signaling. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19020580. [PMID: 29462882 PMCID: PMC5855802 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19020580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Revised: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycosylation is a very frequent and functionally important post-translational protein modification that undergoes profound changes in cancer. Growth and death factor receptors and plasma membrane glycoproteins, which upon activation by extracellular ligands trigger a signal transduction cascade, are targets of several molecular anti-cancer drugs. In this review, we provide a thorough picture of the mechanisms bywhich glycosylation affects the activity of growth and death factor receptors in normal and pathological conditions. Glycosylation affects receptor activity through three non-mutually exclusive basic mechanisms: (1) by directly regulating intracellular transport, ligand binding, oligomerization and signaling of receptors; (2) through the binding of receptor carbohydrate structures to galectins, forming a lattice thatregulates receptor turnover on the plasma membrane; and (3) by receptor interaction with gangliosides inside membrane microdomains. Some carbohydrate chains, for example core fucose and β1,6-branching, exert a stimulatory effect on all receptors, while other structures exert opposite effects on different receptors or in different cellular contexts. In light of the crucial role played by glycosylation in the regulation of receptor activity, the development of next-generation drugs targeting glyco-epitopes of growth factor receptors should be considered a therapeutically interesting goal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Gomes Ferreira
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), General Pathology Building, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Michela Pucci
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), General Pathology Building, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), General Pathology Building, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Nadia Malagolini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), General Pathology Building, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Mariella Chiricolo
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), General Pathology Building, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
| | - Fabio Dall'Olio
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), General Pathology Building, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.
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29
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Reolon J, Costa A, Venturi G, Gross J, Freitas H, Sales D, De Lima VC. P2.09-002 Prevalence and Survival of Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma Patients Treated in a Single Brazilian Cancer Center. J Thorac Oncol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2017.09.1327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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30
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Severino PF, Silva M, Carrascal M, Malagolini N, Chiricolo M, Venturi G, Astolfi A, Catera M, Videira PA, Dall'Olio F. Expression of sialyl-Tn sugar antigen in bladder cancer cells affects response to Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG) and to oxidative damage. Oncotarget 2017; 8:54506-54517. [PMID: 28903359 PMCID: PMC5589598 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.17138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The sialyl-Tn (sTn) antigen is an O-linked carbohydrate chain aberrantly expressed in bladder cancer (BC), whose biosynthesis is mainly controlled by the sialyltransferase ST6GALNAC1. Treatment with Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is the most effective adjuvant immunotherapy for superficial BC but one third of the patients fail to respond. A poorly understood correlation between the expression of sTn and BC patient's response to BCG was previously observed. By analyzing tumor tissues, we showed that patients with high ST6GALNAC1 and IL-6 mRNA expression were BCG responders. To investigate the role of sTn in BC cell biology and BCG response, we established the cell lines MCRsTn and MCRNc by retroviral transduction of the BC cell line MCR with the ST6GALNAC1 cDNA or with an empty vector, respectively. Compared with MCRNc, BCG-stimulated MCRsTn secreted higher levels of IL-6 and IL-8 and their secretome induced a stronger IL-6, IL-1β, and TNFα secretion by macrophages, suggesting the induction of a stronger inflammatory response. Transcriptomic analysis of MCRNc and MCRsTn revealed that ST6GALNAC1/sTn expression modulates hundreds of genes towards a putative more malignant phenotype and down-regulates several genes maintaining genomic stability. Consistently, MCRsTn cells displayed higher H2O2 sensitivity. In MCRsTn,, BCG challenge induced an increased expression of several regulatory non coding RNA genes. These results indicate that the expression of ST6GALNAC1/sTn improves the response to BCG therapy by inducing a stronger macrophage response and alters gene expression towards malignancy and genomic instability, increasing the sensitivity of BC cells to the oxidizing agents released by BCG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo F Severino
- Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas, CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.,Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Sede di Patologia Generale, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mariana Silva
- Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas, CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mylene Carrascal
- Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas, CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Nadia Malagolini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Sede di Patologia Generale, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mariella Chiricolo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Sede di Patologia Generale, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Sede di Patologia Generale, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Annalisa Astolfi
- Centro Interdipartimentale Ricerche sul Cancro "Giorgio Prodi", Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mariangela Catera
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Sede di Patologia Generale, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Paula A Videira
- Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas, CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.,UCIBIO, Departamento Ciências da Vida, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Fabio Dall'Olio
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica, Diagnostica e Sperimentale, Sede di Patologia Generale, Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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31
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Catera M, Borelli V, Malagolini N, Chiricolo M, Venturi G, Reis CA, Osorio H, Abruzzo PM, Capri M, Monti D, Ostan R, Franceschi C, Dall'Olio F. Identification of novel plasma glycosylation-associated markers of aging. Oncotarget 2016; 7:7455-68. [PMID: 26840264 PMCID: PMC4884931 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.7059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 01/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The pro- or anti-inflammatory activities of immunoglobulins G (IgGs) are controlled by the structure of the glycan N-linked to Asn297 of their heavy chain. The age-associated low grade inflammation (inflammaging) is associated with increased plasmatic levels of agalactosylated IgGs terminating with N-acetylglucosamine (IgG-G0) whose biogenesis has not been fully explained. Although the biosynthesis of glycans is in general mediated by glycosyltransferases associated with internal cell membranes, the extracellular glycosylation of circulating glycoproteins mediated by plasmatic glycosyltransferases has been recently demonstrated. In this study we have investigated the relationship between plasmatic glycosyltransferases, IgG glycosylation and inflammatory and aging markers. In cohorts of individuals ranging from infancy to centenarians we determined the activity of plasmatic β4 galactosyltransferase(s) (B4GALTs) and of α2,6-sialyltransferase ST6GAL1, the glycosylation of IgG, the GlycoAge test (a glycosylation-based marker of aging) and the plasma level of inflammatory and liver damage markers. Our results show that: 1) plasmatic B4GALTs activity is a new marker of aging, showing a linear increase throughout the whole age range. 2) plasmatic ST6GAL1 was high only in children and in people above 80, showing a quadratic relationship with age. 3) Neither plasmatic glycosyltransferase correlated with markers of liver damage. 4) plasmatic ST6GAL1 showed a positive association with acute phase proteins in offspring of short lived parents, but not in centenarians or in their offspring. 5) Although the glycosylation of IgGs was not correlated with the level of the two plasmatic glycosyltransferases, it showed progressive age-associated changes consistent with a shift toward a pro-inflammatory glycotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariangela Catera
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Borelli
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Nadia Malagolini
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mariella Chiricolo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Celso A Reis
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (Institute for Research and Innovation in Health), University of Porto, and Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of The University of Porto IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal.,Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine of The University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, Portugal
| | - Hugo Osorio
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (Institute for Research and Innovation in Health), University of Porto, and Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of The University of Porto IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal.,Faculty of Medicine of The University of Porto, Al. Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, Portugal
| | - Provvidenza M Abruzzo
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Miriam Capri
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Daniela Monti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sperimentali e Cliniche "Mario Serio", University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Rita Ostan
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Claudio Franceschi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Fabio Dall'Olio
- Dipartimento di Medicina Specialistica Diagnostica e Sperimentale (DIMES) University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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32
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Mellone M, Hanley CJ, Thirdborough S, Mellows T, Garcia E, Woo J, Tod J, Frampton S, Jenei V, Moutasim KA, Kabir TD, Brennan PA, Venturi G, Ford K, Herranz N, Lim KP, Clarke J, Lambert DW, Prime SS, Underwood TJ, Vijayanand P, Eliceiri KW, Woelk C, King EV, Gil J, Ottensmeier CH, Thomas GJ. Induction of fibroblast senescence generates a non-fibrogenic myofibroblast phenotype that differentially impacts on cancer prognosis. Aging (Albany NY) 2016; 9:114-132. [PMID: 27992856 PMCID: PMC5310659 DOI: 10.18632/aging.101127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) remain a poorly characterized, heterogeneous cell population. Here we characterized two previously described tumor-promoting CAF sub-types, smooth muscle actin (SMA)-positive myofibroblasts and senescent fibroblasts, identifying a novel link between the two. Analysis of CAF cultured ex vivo, showed that senescent CAF are predominantly SMA-positive; this was confirmed by immunochemistry in head & neck (HNSCC) and esophageal (EAC) cancers. In vitro, we found that fibroblasts induced to senesce develop molecular, ultrastructural and contractile features typical of myofibroblasts and this is dependent on canonical TGF-β signaling. Similar to TGF-β1-generated myofibroblasts, these cells secrete soluble factors that promote tumor cell motility. However, RNA-sequencing revealed significant transcriptomic differences between the two SMA-positive CAF groups, particularly in genes associated with extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and organization, which differentially promote tumor cell invasion. Notably, second harmonic generation imaging and bioinformatic analysis of SMA-positive human HNSCC and EAC showed that collagen fiber organization correlates with poor prognosis, indicating that heterogeneity within the SMA-positive CAF population differentially impacts on survival. These results show that non-fibrogenic, SMA-positive myofibroblasts can be directly generated through induction of fibroblast senescence and suggest that senescence and myofibroblast differentiation are closely linked processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano Mellone
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, SO166YD, UK
| | - Christopher J Hanley
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, SO166YD, UK
| | - Steve Thirdborough
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, SO166YD, UK
| | - Toby Mellows
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, SO166YD, UK
| | - Edwin Garcia
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, SO166YD, UK
| | - Jeongmin Woo
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO166YD, UK
| | - Joanne Tod
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, SO166YD, UK
| | - Steve Frampton
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, SO166YD, UK
| | - Veronika Jenei
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, SO166YD, UK
| | - Karwan A Moutasim
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, SO166YD, UK
| | - Tasnuva D Kabir
- Integrated Biosciences, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S102TA, UK
| | - Peter A Brennan
- Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, Portsmouth PO63LY, UK
| | - Giulia Venturi
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, SO166YD, UK
| | - Kirsty Ford
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, SO166YD, UK
| | - Nicolas Herranz
- MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12, UK
| | - Kue Peng Lim
- Cancer Research Initiatives Foundation. Sime Darby Medical Centre, Subang Jaya, Selangor 47500, Malaysia
| | - James Clarke
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, SO166YD, UK
| | - Daniel W Lambert
- Integrated Biosciences, School of Clinical Dentistry, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S102TA, UK
| | - Stephen S Prime
- Centre for Clinical and Diagnostic Oral Sciences, Institute of Dentistry, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London E12AD, UK
| | - Timothy J Underwood
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, SO166YD, UK
| | | | - Kevin W Eliceiri
- Laboratory for Optical and Computational Instrumentation (LOCI), Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Madison, Wisconsin, WI 53706, USA
| | - Christopher Woelk
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO166YD, UK
| | - Emma V King
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, SO166YD, UK
| | - Jesus Gil
- MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College Faculty of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London W12, UK
| | | | - Gareth J Thomas
- Cancer Sciences Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, SO166YD, UK
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Burdino E, Allice T, Milia M, Gregori G, Ruggiero T, Calleri G, Lipani F, Lucchini A, Venturi G, Ghisetti V. Appropriate diagnosis of Zika virus infection: Italy North-West experience. J Clin Virol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2016.08.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Venturi G, Goldoni F, Acchiappati D. Patient radiation dose in interventional cardiology procedures performed in Modena Local Health Unit. Phys Med 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2016.01.328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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35
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Venturi G, Malagoli C, Acchiappati D, Bandiera G, Vallisneri L. Diagnostic radiation dose in adult trauma patients: A survey performed at Modena Local Health Unit. Phys Med 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2016.01.329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022] Open
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36
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Venturi G, Castaldini A, Schleusener A, Sivakov V, Cavallini A. Electronic levels in silicon MaWCE nanowires: evidence of a limited diffusion of Ag. Nanotechnology 2015; 26:425702. [PMID: 26421645 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/26/42/425702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) was performed on lowly n-doped silicon nanowires grown by metal-assisted wet chemical etching (MaWCE) with silver as the catalyst in order to investigate the energetic scheme inside the bandgap. To observe the possible diffusion of atoms into the bulk, DLTS investigation was also performed on the samples after removing the nanowires. Two of the four energy levels observed in the nanowires were also detected inside the substrate. Based on these results and on literature data about deep levels in bulk silicon, some hypotheses are advanced regarding the identification of the defects responsible for the energy levels revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Venturi
- University of Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy
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Zammarchi L, Tappe D, Fortuna C, Remoli ME, Günther S, Venturi G, Bartoloni A, Schmidt-Chanasit J. Zika virus infection in a traveller returning to Europe from Brazil, March 2015. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015; 20. [PMID: 26084316 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es2015.20.23.21153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We report a case of laboratory-confirmed Zika virus infection imported into Europe from the Americas. The patient developed fever, rash, and oedema of hands and feet after returning to Italy from Brazil in late March 2015. The case highlights that, together with chikungunya virus and dengue virus, three major arboviruses are now co-circulating in Brazil. These arboviruses represent a burden for the healthcare systems in Brazil and other countries where competent mosquito vectors are present.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Zammarchi
- Clinica Malattie Infettive, Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Universita Degli Studi di Firenze, Florence, Italy
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Venturi G, Castaldini A, Schleusener A, Sivakov V, Cavallini A. Influence of surface pre-treatment on the electronic levels in silicon MaWCE nanowires. Nanotechnology 2015; 26:195705. [PMID: 25900892 DOI: 10.1088/0957-4484/26/19/195705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Deep level transient spectroscopy (DLTS) was performed on n-doped silicon nanowires grown by metal-assisted wet chemical etching (MaWCE) with gold as the catalyst in order to investigate the energetic scheme inside the bandgap. To observe the possible dependence of the level scheme on the processing temperature, DLTS measurements were performed on the nanowires grown on a non-treated Au/Si surface and on a thermally pre-treated Au/Si surface. A noticeable modification of the configuration of the energy levels was observed, induced by the annealing process. Based on our results on these MaWCE nanowires and on literature data about deep levels in bulk silicon, some hypotheses were advanced regarding the identification of the defects responsible of the energy levels revealed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Venturi
- University of Bologna Alma Mater Studiorum, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Viale Berti Pichat 6/2, I-40127 Bologna, Italy
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Corsi C, Liontos I, Cavalieri S, Bellini M, Venturi G, Eramo R. An ultrastable Michelson interferometer for high-resolution spectroscopy in the XUV. Opt Express 2015; 23:4106-4113. [PMID: 25836448 DOI: 10.1364/oe.23.004106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
We developed an ultra-stable and accurately-controllable Michelson interferometer to be used in a deeply unbalanced arm configuration for split-pulse XUV Ramsey-type spectroscopy with high-order laser harmonics. The implemented active and passive stabilization systems allow one to reach instabilities in the nanometer range over meters of relative optical path differences. Producing precisely delayed pairs of pump pulses will generate XUV harmonic pulses that may significantly improve the achievable spectral resolution and the precision of absolute frequency measurements in the XUV.
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Lozupone F, Borghi M, Marzoli F, Azzarito T, Matarrese P, Iessi E, Venturi G, Meschini S, Canitano A, Bona R, Cara A, Fais S. TM9SF4 is a novel V-ATPase-interacting protein that modulates tumor pH alterations associated with drug resistance and invasiveness of colon cancer cells. Oncogene 2015; 34:5163-74. [PMID: 25659576 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2014.437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Revised: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
An inverted pH gradient across the cell membranes is a typical feature of malignant cancer cells that are characterized by extracellular acidosis and cytosol alkalization. These dysregulations are able to create a unique milieu that favors tumor progression, metastasis and chemo/immune-resistance traits of solid tumors. A key event mediating tumor cell pH alterations is an aberrant activation of ion channels and proton pumps such as (H+)-vacuolar-ATPase (V-ATPase). TM9SF4 is a poorly characterized transmembrane protein that we have recently shown to be related to cannibal behavior of metastatic melanoma cells. Here, we demonstrate that TM9SF4 represents a novel V-ATPase-associated protein involved in V-ATPase activation. We have observed in HCT116 and SW480 colon cancer cell lines that TM9SF4 interacts with the ATP6V1H subunit of the V-ATPase V1 sector. Suppression of TM9SF4 with small interfering RNAs strongly reduces assembly of V-ATPase V0/V1 sectors, thus reversing tumor pH gradient with a decrease of cytosolic pH, alkalization of intracellular vesicles and a reduction of extracellular acidity. Such effects are associated with a significant inhibition of the invasive behavior of colon cancer cells and with an increased sensitivity to the cytotoxic effects of 5-fluorouracil. Our study shows for the first time the important role of TM9SF4 in the aberrant constitutive activation of the V-ATPase, and the development of a malignant phenotype, supporting the potential use of TM9SF4 as a target for future anticancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Lozupone
- Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - M Borghi
- Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediated Diseases Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - F Marzoli
- Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - T Azzarito
- Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - P Matarrese
- Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - E Iessi
- Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - G Venturi
- Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - S Meschini
- Technology and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - A Canitano
- Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - R Bona
- Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - A Cara
- Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - S Fais
- Therapeutic Research and Medicines Evaluation Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Polycarpou C, Cassemiro KN, Venturi G, Zavatta A, Bellini M. Adaptive detection of arbitrarily shaped ultrashort quantum light states. Phys Rev Lett 2012; 109:053602. [PMID: 23006172 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.109.053602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2012] [Revised: 06/28/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
A quantum state of light is the excitation of a particular spatiotemporal mode of the electromagnetic field. A precise control of the mode structure is therefore essential for processing, detecting, and using photonic states in novel quantum technologies. Here we demonstrate an adaptive scheme, combining techniques from the fields of ultrafast coherent control and quantum optics, for probing the arbitrary complex spectrotemporal profile of an ultrashort quantum light pulse. The ability to access the modal structure of a quantum light state could boost the capacity of current quantum information protocols.
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Thompson P, McNaught J, Montemagni S, Calzolari N, del Gratta R, Lee V, Marchi S, Monachini M, Pezik P, Quochi V, Rupp CJ, Sasaki Y, Venturi G, Rebholz-Schuhmann D, Ananiadou S. The BioLexicon: a large-scale terminological resource for biomedical text mining. BMC Bioinformatics 2011; 12:397. [PMID: 21992002 PMCID: PMC3228855 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2105-12-397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2011] [Accepted: 10/12/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to the rapidly expanding body of biomedical literature, biologists require increasingly sophisticated and efficient systems to help them to search for relevant information. Such systems should account for the multiple written variants used to represent biomedical concepts, and allow the user to search for specific pieces of knowledge (or events) involving these concepts, e.g., protein-protein interactions. Such functionality requires access to detailed information about words used in the biomedical literature. Existing databases and ontologies often have a specific focus and are oriented towards human use. Consequently, biological knowledge is dispersed amongst many resources, which often do not attempt to account for the large and frequently changing set of variants that appear in the literature. Additionally, such resources typically do not provide information about how terms relate to each other in texts to describe events. RESULTS This article provides an overview of the design, construction and evaluation of a large-scale lexical and conceptual resource for the biomedical domain, the BioLexicon. The resource can be exploited by text mining tools at several levels, e.g., part-of-speech tagging, recognition of biomedical entities, and the extraction of events in which they are involved. As such, the BioLexicon must account for real usage of words in biomedical texts. In particular, the BioLexicon gathers together different types of terms from several existing data resources into a single, unified repository, and augments them with new term variants automatically extracted from biomedical literature. Extraction of events is facilitated through the inclusion of biologically pertinent verbs (around which events are typically organized) together with information about typical patterns of grammatical and semantic behaviour, which are acquired from domain-specific texts. In order to foster interoperability, the BioLexicon is modelled using the Lexical Markup Framework, an ISO standard. CONCLUSIONS The BioLexicon contains over 2.2 M lexical entries and over 1.8 M terminological variants, as well as over 3.3 M semantic relations, including over 2 M synonymy relations. Its exploitation can benefit both application developers and users. We demonstrate some such benefits by describing integration of the resource into a number of different tools, and evaluating improvements in performance that this can bring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Thompson
- School of Computer Science, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK.
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Finelli F, Marozzi G, Vacca GP, Venturi G. Backreaction during inflation: a physical gauge invariant formulation. Phys Rev Lett 2011; 106:121304. [PMID: 21517296 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.106.121304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Within a genuinely gauge invariant approach recently developed for the computation of the cosmological backreaction, we study, in a cosmological inflationary context and with respect to various observers, the impact of scalar fluctuations on the space-time dynamics in the long wavelength limit. We stress that such a quantum backreaction effect is evaluated in a truly gauge independent way using a set of effective equations which describe the dynamics of the averaged geometry. In particular we show under what conditions the free falling (geodetic) observers do not experience any scalar-induced backreaction in the effective Hubble rate and fluid equation of state.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Finelli
- INAF/IASF Bologna, Istituto di Astrofisica Spaziale e Fisica Cosmica di Bologna via Gobetti 101, I-40129 Bologna, Italy
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Venturi G, Marchi A, Fiorentini C, Ramadani N, Quaglio G, Kalaveshi A, Bertinato L, Putoto G, Benedetti E, Rezza G, Ciufolini MG. Prevalence of antibodies to phleboviruses and flaviviruses in Peja, Kosovo. Clin Microbiol Infect 2011; 17:1180-2. [PMID: 21781206 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2010.03445.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In order to investigate the current and past activity of phlebovirus and flavivirus in Kosovo, a seroprevalence study among 200 blood donors was performed. Positive results were obtained for the phleboviruses TOSV and SFNV, and for a flavivirus of the Japanese Encephalitis group. No positive results for TBEV were observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Venturi
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-Mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Ferrari P, Venturi G, Gualdrini G, Rossi PL, Mariselli M, Zannoli R. Evaluation of the dose to the patient and medical staff in interventional cardiology employing computational models. Radiat Prot Dosimetry 2010; 141:82-85. [PMID: 20457663 DOI: 10.1093/rpd/ncq145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Interventional radiology, among guided X-rays procedures, is a methodology characterised by high level of doses, both for the patient and for the medical staff. The aim of the present study is to estimate the dose associated with coronary angiography procedures by means of numerical models (simplified and anthropomorphic) and MCNPX Monte Carlo code. Numerical estimates were supported by measurement performed with a dose area product meter that is commonly employed in such kind of studies. In the present work the main considerations and the preliminary results are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ferrari
- ENEA-Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Radiation Protection Institute, 16 Via dei Colli, 40136 Bologna, Italy
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Venturi G, Formisano F, Cuello GJ, Johnson MR, Pellegrini E, Bafile U, Guarini E. Structure of liquid n-hexane. J Chem Phys 2009; 131:034508. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3176413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Gobbi F, Napoletano G, Piovesan C, Russo F, Angheben A, Rossanese A, Cattelan AM, Gallo L, Valsecchi M, Piazza A, Venturi G, Bisoffi Z. Where is West Nile fever? Lessons learnt from recent human cases in northern Italy. Euro Surveill 2009; 14:19143. [PMID: 19317987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
West Nile disease in humans has been detected for the first time in Italy in two regions, Emilia-Romagna and Veneto. We conclude that also West Nile fever cases should be specifically targeted by surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Gobbi
- Department of Prevention, Verona, Italy.
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