Hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) to platinum are an important issue in the treatment of patients (pts) with ovarian cancer (OC). Germline BRCA mutations have been proposed as a risk factor. We aimed ...at evaluating the incidence and severity of HSRs to platinum in OC pts. with known BRCA status.
We retrospectively analyzed 432 pts. from 5 Italian Centers. In addition, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published series.
Four hundred nine pts. received at least one prior platinum-based treatment line: 314 were BRCA wild type (77%) and 95 were BRCA mutated (23%). There was no statistical difference in exposure to platinum. Incidence of any grade HSRs was higher among BRCA mutated pts. 9% vs 18%, p = 0.019 and the time-to-HSRs curves show that the risk increases with the duration of platinum exposure, in BRCA mutated pts. more than in BRCA wild type. A multivariable analysis showed that harboring a germline BRCA mutation was related to a higher incidence of HSRs (HR: 1.84, 95% CI 1.00–3.99, p = 0.05) while having received pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD) was related to a lower incidence of HSRs (HR: 0.03 95% CI 0.004–0.22, p = 0.001). The systematic review confirmed the higher incidence of HSRs in BRCA mutated pts., though heterogeneity among series was significant.
In OC pts. with BRCA mutations, there is a significantly higher incidence of HSRs to carboplatin, not justified by longer drug exposure. On the other hand, PLD exerted a protective role in our series.
•Hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) to carboplatin are frequent in pretreated ovarian cancer (OC) patients (pts).•The role of BRCA mutations (mut) as a risk factor has been suggested.•We demonstrate that BRCAmut pts. have an increased risk of HSRs which is not justified by longer drug exposure only.•Receiving pegylated liposomal doxorubicin was a protective factor in our series.•The meta-analysis of literature, though results are heterogeneous, confirms the role of BRCAmut in increasing HSRs risk.
The effectiveness of music training on depressed mood and general cognitive function in elderly participants is verified in this study. Music activities consisted of improvisation exercises for ...stimulating interpersonal skills, mood, and cognitive functions. A mixed research method was adopted, including standardized measures (Mini-Mental State Examination and Geriatric Depression Scale) and follow-up semistructured interviews. The research design included pre- and postevaluation with randomized experimental and control groups. Participants were 45 care residents aged 62 to 95, healthy and with cognitive impairment. Results revealed a significant improvement in depression index (Geriatric Depression Scale) for the experimental period (t = 1.450; p < .005; d = 0.453) while the control group had no improvement (t = 0.080; p > .1; d = 0.025). In addition, a significant improvement was found in the cognitive level (Mini-Mental State Examination) for the experimental (t = 2.300; p < .005; d = 0.668) than the control group that had a significant reduction (t = 1.240; p < .05; d = 0.273). This study provides evidence that music training has a positive impact on depressed mood and general cognitive function in elderly participants. These types of music training sessions could provide aid to control the symptoms of depression, delay the deterioration of cognitive function, and enhance social–cognitive function, especially in individuals presenting with cognitive impairment.
Community music-therapy (CMT) service evaluation in older adults’ care home communities is an important process to enhance the quality of therapists’ outputs and the development of client-centred ...approaches to meet the needs of residents and community. However, administrative limitations that could affect therapists’ contact time with clients may lead to the underestimation of service evaluation within the system. This study aims to explore community music therapists’ perceptions of the impact of their services in older adults’ care home communities using a qualitative approach based on semi-structured interviews. The therapists were asked to reflect on specific aspects of their community music therapy service, potential cognitive-behavioural and physiological effects of therapy, best-practices for assessment in MT and challenges experienced in this particular setting. Participants highlighted the unique value of CMT in care home communities. They demonstrated the ability to detect and assess impacts of CMT using clinical analysis methods, which can improve care plans for the residents. However, certain limitations, such as reduced hours, inadequate funding and a lack of recognition of CMT’s benefits by care home staff, were identified. Moreover, the analysis shed light on how COVID-19 impacted the CMT service in this context, emphasizing the need for adaptability and resilience in providing care. The implications of the results in an Italian community context are further analysed and discussed, stressing the importance of supporting CMT as a fundamental service in care home communities for older adults. By addressing the highlighted limitation and embracing the perspectives of community music therapists, care homes can optimize their services and enhance the well-being of their residents.
●Auditory neurophysiology requires the precise alignment of sound and neural signals.●The study quantifies the impact of temporal imprecision on the envelope TRF.●A novel re-alignment procedure is ...devised for detecting temporal imprecisions.
While poorly dispersing taxa such as amphibians may have limited scope to track recent and rapid climate change by means of large range shifts, they may follow their climate envelope with short ...elevational shifts in mountain areas. Such elevational shifts are poorly documented by empirical data for amphibians. In this study, we analysed a 15-year data series on the distribution of three amphibian species (Bufo bufo, Triturus carnifex and Rana temporaria) inhabiting a mountain pond network in the southern Italian Alps, where temperatures have increased significantly over the last decades. By using multi-season occupancy models, we estimated the occupancy trend of each species over the study period and tested the occurrence of an actual elevational shift after accounting for the probability of false absence. The upper elevational limit of the two eurythermal species (B. bufo and T. carnifex) underwent a significant and progressive upward shift of ca. 200 m. Our results provide evidence of the ability of amphibians to perform rapid elevational shifts, great enough to track predicted rates of climate warming. Preserving and improving habitat connectivity between lowlands and highlands could safeguard the opportunity for such elevational migrations, but mountain aquatic habitats must be preserved in order to provide a safe refuge for amphibians escaping climate warming.
Long-term data on the elevational distribution of amphibians provide evidence that eurythermal species (B. bufo and T. carnifex) can perform rapid upward elevational shifts, great enough to track predicted rates of climate warming. Display omitted
•Whether amphibian distribution can track climate warming with the necessary rapidity is uncertain.•Prior studies have shown weak or no evidence of latitudinal and elevational range shifts.•Amphibians’ capacity to perform upward elevational shifts during a period of climate warming is demonstrated.•Lowland-highland connectivity should be preserved or recovered in order for such range shifts to continue being possible.
The evolution of chemical signals is subject to environmental constraints. A multicomponent signal may combine semiochemical molecules with supporting compounds able to enhance communication ...efficacy. Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) are ubiquitous enzymes catalysing the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide, a reaction involved in a variety of physiological processes as it controls the chemical environment of the different tissues or cellular compartments, thus contributing to the overall system homeostasis. CA-IV isoform has been recently identified by mass spectrometry in the femoral gland secretions (FG) of the marine iguana, where it has been hypothesized to contribute to the chemical stability of the signal, by regulating blend pH. Lizards, indeed, use FG to communicate by delivering the waxy secretion on bare substrate, where it is exposed to environmental stressors. Therefore, we expect that some molecules in the mixture may play supporting functions, enhancing the stability of the chemical environment, or even conferring homeostatic properties to the blend. CA-IV may well represent an important candidate to this hypothesized supporting/homeostatic function, and, therefore, we can expect it to be common in FG secretions of other lizard species. To evaluate this prediction and definitely validate CA identity, we analysed FG secretions of eight species of wall lizards (genus Podarcis), combining mass spectrometry, immunoblotting, immunocytochemistry, and transmission electron microscopy. We demonstrate CA-IV to actually occur in the FG of seven out of the eight considered species, providing an immunochemistry validation of mass-spectrometry identifications, and localizing the enzyme within the secretion mass. The predicted structure of the identified CA is compatible with the known enzymatic activity of CA-IV, supporting the hypothesis that CA play a signal homeostasis function and opening to new perspective about the role of proteins in vertebrate chemical communication.
Summary
The use of dyes in meats has to be monitored, due to food safety concerns. The presence of twelve dyes (Amaranth, Ponceau 4R, Carmine, Ponceau SX, Ponceau 3R, Allura Red AC, Carmoisine, ...Erythrosine, Sudan I, Sudan II, Sudan III and Sudan IV) in meat was investigated in 130 meat product and fresh meat preparation samples, and the dietary exposure was estimated. Carmine and Ponceau 4R were the identified dyes. Except for one sample of salami, they were regularly indicated on the label, and their concentrations were in the range 1.3–8.1 and 6.2–86.4 mg kg−1 for Ponceau 4R and Carmine, respectively. Concerning fresh meat preparations, Carmine was detected in three samples, confirming that this dye is still used, although it is no longer authorised in these products. Regarding dietary exposure estimate, the daily intake from meat product consumption resulted lower than 1% of the ADI, both for Carmine and Ponceau 4R.
The use of dyes was monitored in 130 samples of fresh meat preparations and meat products, using a validated HPLC‐UV‐diode array detection method. The obtained results were elaborated as a contribution to risk assessment.
Colour polymorphism occurs when two or more genetically-based colour morphs permanently coexist within an interbreeding population. Colouration is usually associated to other life-history traits ...(ecological, physiological, behavioural, reproductive …) of the bearer, thus being the phenotypic marker of such set of genetic features. This visual badge may be used to inform conspecifics and to drive those decision making processes which may contribute maintaining colour polymorphism under sexual selection context. The importance of such information suggests that other communication modalities should be recruited to ensure its transfer in case visual cues were insufficient. Here, for the first time, we investigated the potential role of proteins from femoral gland secretions in signalling colour morph in a polymorphic lizard. As proteins are thought to convey identity-related information, they represent the ideal cues to build up the chemical modality used to badge colour morphs. We found strong evidence for the occurrence of morph-specific protein profiles in the three main colour-morphs of the common wall lizard, which showed both qualitative and quantitative differences in protein expression. As lizards are able to detect proteins by tongue-flicking and vomeronasal organ, this result support the hypothesis that colour polymorphic lizards may use a multimodal signal to inform about colour-morph.
A better understanding of adipose tissue biology is crucial to tackle insulin resistance and eventually coronary heart disease and diabetes, leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. ...GALNT2, a GalNAc-transferase, positively modulates insulin signaling in human liver cells by down-regulating ENPP1, an insulin signaling inhibitor. GALNT2 expression is increased in adipose tissue of obese as compared to that of non-obese individuals. Whether this association is secondary to a GALNT2-insulin sensitizing effect exerted also in adipocytes is unknown. We then investigated in mouse 3T3-L1 adipocytes the GALNT2 effect on adipogenesis, insulin signaling and expression levels of both Enpp1 and 72 adipogenesis-related genes.
Stable over-expressing GALNT2 and GFP preadipocytes (T
) were generated. Adipogenesis was induced with (R+) or without (R-) rosiglitazone and investigated after 15 days (T
). Lipid accumulation (by Oil Red-O staining) and intracellular triglycerides (by fluorimetric assay) were measured. Lipid droplets (LD) measures were analyzed at confocal microscope. Gene expression was assessed by RT-PCR and insulin-induced insulin receptor (IR), IRS1, JNK and AKT phosphorylation by Western blot.
Lipid accumulation, triglycerides and LD measures progressively increased from T
to T
R- and furthermore to T
R+. Such increases were significantly higher in GALNT2 than in GFP cells so that, as compared to T
R+GFP, T
R- GALNT2 cells showed similar (intracellular lipid and triglycerides accumulation) or even higher (LD measures, p < 0.01) values. In GALNT2 preadipocytes, insulin-induced IR, IRS1 and AKT activation was higher than that in GFP cells. GALNT2 effect was totally abolished during adipocyte maturation and completely reversed at late stage maturation. Such GALNT2 effect trajectory was paralleled by coordinated changes in the expression of Enpp1 and adipocyte-maturation key genes.
GALNT2 is a novel modulator of adipogenesis and related cellular phenotypes, thus becoming a potential target for tackling the obesity epidemics and its devastating sequelae.
PDF
