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Oliva G, Fiorillo AS, Islam SK, Pullano SA. Detection of Propionic Acids Trapped in Thin Zeolite Layer Using Thermal Desorption Analysis. Sensors (Basel) 2023; 23:7352. [PMID: 37687805 PMCID: PMC10490041 DOI: 10.3390/s23177352] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have recently received considerable attention for the analysis and monitoring of different biochemical processes in biological systems such as humans, plants, and microorganisms. The advantage of using VOCs to gather information about a specific process is that they can be extracted using different types of samples, even at low concentrations. Therefore, VOC levels represent the fingerprints of specific biochemical processes. The aim of this work was to develop a sensor based on a photoionization detector (PID) and a zeolite layer, used as an alternative analytic separation technique for the analysis of VOCs. The identification of VOCs occurred through the evaluation of the emissive profile during the thermal desorption phase, using a stainless-steel chamber for analysis. Emission profiles were evaluated using a double exponential mathematical model, which fit well if compared with the physical system, describing both the evaporation and diffusion processes. The results showed that the zeolite layer was selective for propionic acid molecules if compared to succinic acid molecules, showing linear behavior even at low concentrations. The process to define the optimal adsorption time between the propionic acid molecules was performed in the range of 5 to 60 min, followed by a thermal desorption process at 100 °C. An investigation of the relationship between the evaporation and diffusion rates showed that the maximum concentration of detected propionic acid molecules occurred in 15 min. Other analyses were performed to study how the concentration of VOCs depended on the desorption temperature and the volume of the analysis chamber. For this purpose, tests were performed using three analysis chambers with volumes of 25 × 10-6, 50 × 10-6, and 150 × 10-6 m3 at three different desorption temperatures of 20 °C, 50 °C, and 100 °C, respectively. The results demonstrated that the evaporation rate of the VOCs increased rapidly with an increasing temperature, while the diffusion rate remained almost constant and was characterized by a slow decay time. The diffusion ratio increased when using a chamber with a larger volume. These results highlight the capabilities of this alternative technique for VOC analysis, even for samples with low concentrations. The coupling of a zeolite layer and a PID improves the detection selectivity in portable devices, demonstrating the feasibility of extending its use to a wide range of new applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Oliva
- Biomedical Applications Technologies & Sensors (BATS) Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Antonino S. Fiorillo
- Biomedical Applications Technologies & Sensors (BATS) Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Syed Kamrul Islam
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA;
| | - Salvatore A. Pullano
- Biomedical Applications Technologies & Sensors (BATS) Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA;
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Greco M, Mirabelli M, Salatino A, Accattato F, Aiello V, Brunetti FS, Chiefari E, Pullano SA, Fiorillo AS, Foti DP, Brunetti A. From Euglycemia to Recent Onset of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Proof-of-Concept Study on Circulating microRNA Profiling Reveals Distinct, and Early microRNA Signatures. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:2443. [PMID: 37510186 PMCID: PMC10377827 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13142443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 06/13/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and aim-Alterations in circulating microRNA (miRNA) expression patterns are thought to be involved in the early stages of prediabetes, as well as in the progression to overt type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) and its vascular complications. However, most research findings are conflicting, in part due to differences in miRNA extraction and normalization methods, and in part due to differences in the study populations and their selection. This cross-sectional study seeks to find new potentially useful biomarkers to predict and/or diagnose T2D by investigating the differential expression patterns of circulating miRNAs in the serum of patients with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and new-onset T2D, with respect to euglycemic controls, using a high-throughput 384-well array and real-time PCR. Methods-Thirty subjects, aged 45-65 years, classified into three matched groups (of 10 participants each) according to their glycometabolic status, namely (1) healthy euglycemic controls, (2) patients with IFG and (3) patients with new-onset, uncomplicated T2D (<2 years since diagnosis) were enrolled. Circulating miRNAs were extracted from blood serum and profiled through real-time PCR on a commercial 384 well-array, containing spotted forward primers for 372 miRNAs. Data analysis was performed by using the online data analysis software GeneGlobe and normalized by the global Ct mean method. Results-Of the 372 analyzed miRNAs, 33 showed a considerably different expression in IFG and new-onset T2D compared to healthy euglycemic controls, with 2 of them down-regulated and 31 up-regulated. Stringent analysis conditions, using a differential fold regulation threshold ≥ 10, revealed that nine miRNAs (hsa-miR-3610, hsa-miR-3200-5p, hsa-miR-4651, hsa-miR-3135b, hsa-miR-1281, hsa-miR-4301, hsa-miR-195-5p, hsa-miR-523-5p and hsa-let-7a-5p) showed a specific increase in new-onset T2D patients compared to IFG patients, suggesting their possible role as early biomarkers of progression from prediabetes to T2D. Moreover, by conventional fold regulation thresholds of ±2, hsa-miR-146a-5p was down-regulated and miR-1225-3p up-regulated in new-onset T2D patients only. Whereas hsa-miR-146a-5p has a well-known role in glucose metabolism, insulin resistance and T2D complications, no association between hsa-miR-1225-3p and T2D has been previously reported. Bioinformatic and computational analysis predict a role of hsa-miR-1225-3p in the pathogenesis of T2D through the interaction with MAP3K1 and HMGA1. Conclusions-The outcomes of this study could aid in the identification and characterization of circulating miRNAs as potential novel biomarkers for the early diagnosis of T2D and may serve as a proof-of-concept for future mechanistic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Greco
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria Mirabelli
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Alessandro Salatino
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Francesca Accattato
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Aiello
- Department of Precision Medicine, Vanvitelli University, 80133 Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco S Brunetti
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Eusebio Chiefari
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Salvatore A Pullano
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Antonino S Fiorillo
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Daniela P Foti
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Antonio Brunetti
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
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Oliva G, Bianco MG, Fiorillo AS, Pullano SA. Anti-Reflective Zeolite Coating for Implantable Bioelectronic Devices. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:bioengineering9080404. [PMID: 36004929 PMCID: PMC9405366 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9080404] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Since sunlight is one of the most easily available and clean energy supplies, solar cell development and the improvement of its conversion efficiency represent a highly interesting topic. Superficial light reflection is one of the limiting factors of the photovoltaic cells (PV) efficiency. To this end, interfacial layer with anti-reflective properties reduces this phenomenon, improving the energy potentially available for transduction. Nanoporous materials, because of the correlation between the refractive index and the porosity, allow low reflection, improving light transmission through the coating. In this work, anti-reflective coatings (ARCs) deposited on commercial PV cells, which were fabricated using two different Linde Type A (LTA) zeolites (type 3A and 4A), have been investigated. The proposed technique allows an easier deposition of a zeolite-based mixture, avoiding the use of chemicals and elevated temperature calcination processes. Results using radiation in the range 470–610 nm evidenced substantial enhancement of the fill factor, with maximum achieved values of over 40%. At 590 and 610 nm, which are the most interesting bands for implantable devices, FF is improved, with a maximum of 22% and 10%, respectively. ARCs differences are mostly related to the morphology of the zeolite powder used, which resulted in thicker and rougher coatings using zeolite 3A. The proposed approach allows a simple and reliable deposition technique, which can be of interest for implantable medical devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Oliva
- BATS Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria Giovanna Bianco
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Antonino S. Fiorillo
- BATS Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Salvatore A. Pullano
- BATS Laboratory, Department of Health Sciences, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
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Pullano SA, Bianco MG, Greco M, Mazzuca D, Nisticò SP, Fiorillo AS. FT-IR saliva analysis for the diagnosis of psoriasis: A pilot study. Biomed Signal Process Control 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bspc.2022.103525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Pullano SA, Critello CD, Bianco MG, Menniti M, Fiorillo AS. PVDF Ultrasonic Sensors for In-Air Applications: A Review. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control 2021; 68:2324-2335. [PMID: 33956630 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2021.3078069] [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: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), a material with ferroelectric characteristics, is still extremely topical for the manufacturing of transducers, and different examples, some of which have been actively commercialized since the 1980s, are reported in the literature. In this work, we present a review focused on the PVDF technology for the manufacturing of in-air ultrasonic transducers, which found application in medical robotics, sonar systems, and automation industry (e.g., proximity sensors and obstacle detection). The aim is to provide a comprehensive view on the development of such ultrasonic transducers, highlighting the constructive choices and the advantages/disadvantages in a thorough and concise way.
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Pullano SA, Fiorillo AS, Barile G, Stornelli V, Ferri G. A Second-Generation Voltage-Conveyor-Based Interface for Ultrasonic PVDF Sensors. Micromachines (Basel) 2021; 12:mi12020099. [PMID: 33498360 PMCID: PMC7909449 DOI: 10.3390/mi12020099] [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] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Exploiting the transmission and reception of low frequency ultrasounds in air is often associated with the innate echolocating abilities of some mammals, later emulated with sophisticated electronic systems, to obtain information about unstructured environments. Here, we present a novel approach for the reception of ultrasounds in air, which exploits a piezopolymer broadband sensor and an electronic interface based on a second-generation voltage conveyor (VCII). Taking advantage of its capability to manipulate both voltage and current signals, in this paper, we propose an extremely simple interface that presents a sensitivity level of about −100 dB, which is in line with commercially available references. The presented results are obtained without any filtration stage. The second-generation voltage conveyor active device is implemented through a commercially available AD844, with a supply voltage of ±15 V.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore A. Pullano
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.A.P.); (A.S.F.)
| | - Antonino S. Fiorillo
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.A.P.); (A.S.F.)
| | - Gianluca Barile
- Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics (DIIEE), Faculty of Engineering, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (V.S.); (G.F.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Vincenzo Stornelli
- Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics (DIIEE), Faculty of Engineering, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (V.S.); (G.F.)
| | - Giuseppe Ferri
- Department of Industrial and Information Engineering and Economics (DIIEE), Faculty of Engineering, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (V.S.); (G.F.)
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Greco M, Chiefari E, Accattato F, Corigliano DM, Arcidiacono B, Mirabelli M, Liguori R, Brunetti FS, Pullano SA, Scorcia V, Fiorillo AS, Foti DP, Brunetti A. MicroRNA-1281 as a Novel Circulating Biomarker in Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:528. [PMID: 32849308 PMCID: PMC7417427 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.00528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: Recently, the role of circulating miRNAs as non-invasive biomarkers for the identification and monitoring of diabetes microvascular complications has emerged. Herein, we aimed to: identify circulating miRNAs differentially expressed in patients with and without diabetic retinopathy (DR); examine their predictive value; and understand their pathogenic impact. Methods: Pooled serum samples from randomly selected matched patients with type 2 diabetes, either with or without DR, were used for initial serum miRNA profiling. Validation of the most relevant miRNAs was thereafter conducted by RT-qPCR in an extended sample of patients with DR and matched controls. Results: Following miRNA profiling, 43 miRNAs were significantly up- or down-regulated in patients with DR compared with controls. After individual validation, 5 miRNAs were found significantly overexpressed in patients with DR. One of them, miR-1281, was the most up-regulated and appeared to be specifically related to DR. Furthermore, secreted levels of miR-1281 were increased in high glucose-cultured retinal cells, and there was evidence of a potential link between glucose-induced miR-1281 up-regulation and DR. Conclusion: Our findings suggest miR-1281 as a circulating biomarker of DR. Also, they highlight the pathogenic significance of miR-1281, providing insights for a new potential target in treating DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Greco
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia,”Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Eusebio Chiefari
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia,”Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Francesca Accattato
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia,”Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Biagio Arcidiacono
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia,”Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria Mirabelli
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia,”Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Rossella Liguori
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia,”Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Francesco S. Brunetti
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia,”Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Salvatore A. Pullano
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia,”Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Scorcia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia,”Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Antonino S. Fiorillo
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia,”Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Daniela P. Foti
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia,”Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Antonio Brunetti
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia,”Catanzaro, Italy
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Critello DC, Pullano SA, Gallo G, Matula TJ, Fiorillo AS. Low frequency ultrasound as a potentially viable foaming option for pathological veins. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2020.124919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Fiorillo AS, Pullano SA, Critello CD. Spiral-Shaped Biologically-Inspired Ultrasonic Sensor. IEEE Trans Ultrason Ferroelectr Freq Control 2020; 67:635-642. [PMID: 31647427 DOI: 10.1109/tuffc.2019.2948817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Up to now, low-frequency ultrasonic transducers have been manufactured using different materials and technologies and have been inspired by the biological world, mainly by the biosonar of dolphins and bats. Our research moves in this context, which is dedicated to investigating the feasibility of developing a piezopolymer sensor capable of covering the wide frequency range of a bat's biosonar. We propose an ultrasonic sensor manufactured using a sheet of polyvinylidene fluoride curved according to a logarithmic spiral geometry as it is present in biological models of the cochlea. Experiments were carried out both in transmission and reception, and demonstrated that a spiral-shaped transducer can transmit and receive ultrasonic signals similar to the specific vocalizations of most of the bats in the range between 20 and 80 kHz. The resonant frequencies of the transducer were evaluated through a finite element analysis, in agreement with experimental data covering the entire broadband. During transmission, the sound pressure level showed a maximum value of 90 dB, while during reception, the sensitivity spanned from t103.8 up to t89.1 dB. Directivity measurements demonstrated omnidirectional properties both on horizontal and vertical planes, representing a breakthrough in the field of broadband ultrasonic sensors.
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Stetsenko M, Pullano SA, Margitych T, Maksimenko L, Hassan A, Kryvyi S, Hu R, Huang C, Ziniuk R, Golovynskyi S, Babichuk I, Li Β, Qu J, Fiorillo AS. Antireflection Enhancement by Composite Nanoporous Zeolite 3A-Carbon Thin Film. Nanomaterials (Basel) 2019; 9:E1641. [PMID: 31752315 PMCID: PMC6915533 DOI: 10.3390/nano9111641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
A straightforward and effective spin-coating technique at 120 °C was investigated for the deposition of a thin nanoporous layer with antireflection properties onto glass and indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass. A mixture of zeolite 3A powder and high iodine value vegetable oil was deposited, creating a carbonic paste with embedded nanoporous grains. Experimental results evidenced excellent broadband antireflection over the visible-near-infrared wavelength range (450-850 nm), with a diffuse reflectance value of 1.67% and 1.79%. Structural and optical characteristics stabilized over time. The results are promising for the accessible and cost-effective fabrication of an antireflective surface for optoelectronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maksym Stetsenko
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (M.S.); (A.H.)
- V. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 03680 Kyiv, Ukraine; (L.M.); (S.K.); (I.B.)
| | - Salvatore A. Pullano
- Department of Health Sciences, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.A.P.); (A.S.F.)
| | - Tetiana Margitych
- Kiev Institute for Nuclear Research, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 03680 Kyiv, Ukraine;
| | - Lidia Maksimenko
- V. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 03680 Kyiv, Ukraine; (L.M.); (S.K.); (I.B.)
| | - Ali Hassan
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (M.S.); (A.H.)
| | - Serhii Kryvyi
- V. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 03680 Kyiv, Ukraine; (L.M.); (S.K.); (I.B.)
- Institute of Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 02-668 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rui Hu
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (M.S.); (A.H.)
| | - Chun Huang
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (M.S.); (A.H.)
| | - Roman Ziniuk
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (M.S.); (A.H.)
| | - Sergii Golovynskyi
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (M.S.); (A.H.)
- V. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 03680 Kyiv, Ukraine; (L.M.); (S.K.); (I.B.)
| | - Ivan Babichuk
- V. Lashkaryov Institute of Semiconductor Physics, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 03680 Kyiv, Ukraine; (L.M.); (S.K.); (I.B.)
- Intelligent Manufacturing Division, Wuyi University, Jiangmen 529020, China
| | - Βaikui Li
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (M.S.); (A.H.)
| | - Junle Qu
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (M.S.); (A.H.)
| | - Antonino S. Fiorillo
- Department of Health Sciences, Magna Græcia University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.A.P.); (A.S.F.)
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Critello CD, Pullano SA, Matula TJ, De Franciscis S, Serra R, Fiorillo AS. Recent developments on foaming mechanical and electronic techniques for the management of varicose veins. Expert Rev Med Devices 2019; 16:931-940. [PMID: 31622557 DOI: 10.1080/17434440.2019.1682549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: Varicose veins are a common disease, causing significant impairment of quality of life to afflicted individuals. Conventional surgery has represented the traditional treatment for years, with significant post-operative complications. By the end of the 20th century, novel approaches had been developed to induce biochemical sclerosis into the treated vein in order to exclude it from blood circulation.Areas covered: Foaming techniques for treatment of varicose veins, both clinically-approved methods and those under experimental studies. A brief description of cavitation, which is the basis of microbubbles formation, and an overview of foam properties have been also provided, including a discussion on clinical efficacy and safety profile.Expert commentary: Foam sclerotherapy has rapidly gained popularity since it represents the most minimally invasive and cost-effective procedure in the short term. Several different methods of foam preparation have been described in literature. In general, the foam generation method may affect characteristics such as stability and bubble size distribution, which in turn affect the therapeutic action of foam itself. Therefore, the selection of a suitable foaming technique is of importance for treatment success. Future developments on foaming techniques are expected to make sclerotherapy, already an effective treatment, even safer and more versatile therapeutic procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Davide Critello
- Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Salvatore A Pullano
- Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Thomas J Matula
- Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stefano De Franciscis
- Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Raffaele Serra
- Department of Surgical and Medical Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Antonino S Fiorillo
- Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
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12
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Pullano SA, Greco M, Corigliano DM, Foti DP, Brunetti A, Fiorillo AS. Cell-line characterization by infrared-induced pyroelectric effect. Biosens Bioelectron 2019; 140:111338. [PMID: 31158794 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2019.111338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [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: 03/04/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Evaluation of cellular thermodynamics has recently received a high interest because of its implication in many mechanisms related with function, structure and health of cells. Recent literature reported significant efforts to provide affordable intracellular thermal components of absorption, such as thermal conductivity, to overcome the lack of experimental data. Herein, we provide lines of evidence towards the fabrication of an electronic system, using a rapid thermoelectric technique based on infrared-induced pyroelectric effect for in-vitro cell model characterization. Results demonstrated that the assessment of the average single cell thermal conductivity, sample concentration, and information on cell viability is possible over a wide concentration range. The proposed electronic system establishes a different analysis paradigm if compared to those reported in the literature, with consistent results, demonstrating that the adopted technique can provide cell-specific information and knowledge, closely linked to cell viability and its vital functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore A Pullano
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy.
| | - Marta Greco
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Domenica M Corigliano
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Daniela P Foti
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - A Brunetti
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Antonino S Fiorillo
- Department of Health Sciences, University "Magna Græcia" of Catanzaro, 88100, Catanzaro, Italy
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Accattato F, Greco M, Pullano SA, Carè I, Fiorillo AS, Pujia A, Montalcini T, Foti DP, Brunetti A, Gulletta E. Effects of acute physical exercise on oxidative stress and inflammatory status in young, sedentary obese subjects. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0178900. [PMID: 28582461 PMCID: PMC5459463 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0178900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [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: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Circulating oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory markers change after regular physical exercise; however, how a short session of acute physical activity affects the inflammatory status and redox balance in sedentary individuals is still unclear. Aim of this study is to assess antioxidant and inflammatory parameters, both at rest and after acute exercise, in sedentary young men with or without obesity. Thirty sedentary male volunteers, aged 20–45 (mean age 32 ± 7 years), were recruited, divided into 3 groups (normal weight: BMI < 25 kg/m2; overweight to moderate obesity: 25–35 kg/m2; severe obesity: 35–40 kg/m2), and their blood samples collected before and after a 20-min run at ~ 70% of their VO2max for the measurement of Glutathione Reductase, Glutathione Peroxidase, Superoxide Dismutase, Total Antioxidant Status (TAS) and cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-1α, IL-1β, TNFα, MCP-1, VEGF, IFNγ, EGF). Inter-group comparisons demonstrated significantly higher Glutathione Reductase activity in severely obese subjects in the post-exercise period (P = 0.036), and higher EGF levels in normal weight individuals, either before (P = 0.003) and after exercise (P = 0.05). Intra-group comparisons showed that the acute exercise stress induced a significant increase in Glutathione Reductase activity in severely obese subjects only (P = 0.007), a significant decrease in MCP-1 in the normal weight group (P = 0.02), and a decrease in EGF levels in all groups (normal weight: P = 0.025, overweight/moderate obesity: P = 0.04, severe obesity: P = 0.018). Altogether, these findings suggest that in sedentary individuals with different ranges of BMI, Glutathione Reductase and distinct cytokines are differentially involved into the adaptive metabolic changes and redox responses induced by physical exercise. Therefore, these biomarkers may have the potential to identify individuals at higher risk for developing diseases pathophysiologically linked to oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marta Greco
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia”, Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Ilaria Carè
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Græcia”, Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Arturo Pujia
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Græcia”, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Tiziana Montalcini
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Græcia”, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Daniela P. Foti
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia”, Catanzaro, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Antonio Brunetti
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia”, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Elio Gulletta
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia”, Catanzaro, Italy
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14
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Pullano SA, Mahbub I, Islam SK, Fiorillo AS. PVDF Sensor Stimulated by Infrared Radiation for Temperature Monitoring in Microfluidic Devices. Sensors (Basel) 2017; 17:s17040850. [PMID: 28406447 PMCID: PMC5424727 DOI: 10.3390/s17040850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2017] [Revised: 03/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents a ferroelectric polymer-based temperature sensor designed for microfluidic devices. The integration of the sensor into a system-on-a-chip platform facilitates quick monitoring of localized temperature of a biological fluid, avoiding errors in the evaluation of thermal evolution of the fluid during analysis. The contact temperature sensor is fabricated by combining a thin pyroelectric film together with an infrared source, which stimulates the active element located on the top of the microfluidic channel. An experimental setup was assembled to validate the analytical model and to characterize the response rate of the device. The evaluation procedure and the operating range of the temperature also make this device suitable for applications where the localized temperature monitoring of biological samples is necessary. Additionally, ease of integration with standard microfluidic devices makes the proposed sensor an attractive option for in situ analysis of biological fluids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore A Pullano
- Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Tennessee, 1520 Middle Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
| | - Ifana Mahbub
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Tennessee, 1520 Middle Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
| | - Syed K Islam
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Tennessee, 1520 Middle Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
| | - Antonino S Fiorillo
- Department of Health Sciences, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
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15
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Bottoni U, Tiriolo R, Pullano SA, Dastoli S, Amoruso GF, Nisticò SP, Fiorillo AS. Infrared Saliva Analysis of Psoriatic and Diabetic Patients: Similarities in Protein Components. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 2015. [PMID: 26208262 DOI: 10.1109/tbme.2015.2458967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
GOAL Psoriasis is a chronic skin disease which is very common in the population and requires frequent clinical and pharmacological treatment. In the following, a study based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyzing saliva proteomic components in psoriatic patients against diabetic patients and a control group is presented. Clinical analysis showed a prominent amide II band, at around 1545 cm(-1), and the composition of the amide I band, at around 1647 cm(-1), allowing us to distinguish the infrared salivary signature of psoriatic and diabetic patients from the control group and even from patients with different kinds of psoriasis. Moreover, results highlighted existing differences in the secondary structure composition of proteins between psoriatic and diabetic patients as compared to the control group. In fact, the saliva spectra of the control group and that of the palmoplantar psoriatic patients differ from plaque psoriasis and diabetic patient spectra because of the absence of the amide II band and the presence of different secondary protein-structure conformations.
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