Bladder cancer (BC) is the most prevalent malignant tumor in the urinary tract, classified mainly into muscle-invasive BC (MIBC) and non-MIBC (NMIBC). Recent studies highlight the important role of ...changes in transcriptome activity in carcinogenesis, aiding in the identification of additional differentially regulated candidate genes, improving our understanding of the molecular basis of gene regulation in BC. This study aimed to evaluate the transcriptome of MIBC patients compared with normal subjects.BACKGROUND/AIMBladder cancer (BC) is the most prevalent malignant tumor in the urinary tract, classified mainly into muscle-invasive BC (MIBC) and non-MIBC (NMIBC). Recent studies highlight the important role of changes in transcriptome activity in carcinogenesis, aiding in the identification of additional differentially regulated candidate genes, improving our understanding of the molecular basis of gene regulation in BC. This study aimed to evaluate the transcriptome of MIBC patients compared with normal subjects.mRNA sequencing was conducted using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 Dx system in a case series comprising 11 subjects with MIBC and 19 healthy controls matched for age and sex. For functional analysis, the pathfindR package was utilized to comprehensively identify pathways enriched in omics data within active subnetworks.MATERIALS AND METHODSmRNA sequencing was conducted using the Illumina NovaSeq 6000 Dx system in a case series comprising 11 subjects with MIBC and 19 healthy controls matched for age and sex. For functional analysis, the pathfindR package was utilized to comprehensively identify pathways enriched in omics data within active subnetworks.Our results demonstrated the presence of differentiated pathways, including spliceosome activity, oxidative phosphorylation, and chemical carcinogenesis due to reactive oxygen species, in MIBC patients compared with controls.RESULTSOur results demonstrated the presence of differentiated pathways, including spliceosome activity, oxidative phosphorylation, and chemical carcinogenesis due to reactive oxygen species, in MIBC patients compared with controls.The identification of novel molecular pathways in MIBC patients could prove useful in defining cancer predisposition factors and exploring potential therapeutic options.CONCLUSIONThe identification of novel molecular pathways in MIBC patients could prove useful in defining cancer predisposition factors and exploring potential therapeutic options.
Inflammation is a protective response of the body to various injuries, which is strictly regulated by a variety of factors, including immune cells and soluble mediators. However, dysfunction of this ...defensive mechanism often results in inflammation‑driven diseases, such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT). The complex relationship between inflammatory cell activity and DVT has not been fully elucidated. The present study aimed to investigate the role of interleukin‑6 (IL6) signaling transduction in DVT. To this aim, the expression levels of transmembrane isoforms of the IL6 receptor (IL6R) and the glycoprotein 130 responsible for the IL6 cis‑signaling were evaluated in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with DVT and of healthy controls. The results indicated that leukocytes from patients with DVT exhibited overexpression of both IL6R and gp130 membrane isoforms and that these were strongly associated with the occurrence of DVT. Overall, the present findings indicated that IL6 cis‑signaling may have a direct involvement in the leukocyte activation in DVT and may serve as a predictive biomarker of DVT development.
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a multisystem and multifactorial disorder and, therefore, the application of modern genetic techniques may assist in unraveling its complex pathophysiology. We conducted a ...clinical-demographic evaluation of 126 patients with PD, all of whom were Caucasian and of Sicilian ancestry. DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood for each patient, followed by sequencing using a Next-Generation Sequencing system. This system was based on a custom gene panel comprising 162 genes. The sample underwent further filtering, taking into account the allele frequencies of genetic variants, their presence in the Human Gene Mutation Database, and their association in the literature with PD or other movement/neurodegenerative disorders. The largest number of variants was identified in the leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (
) gene. However, variants in other genes, such as acid beta-glucosidase (
), DNA polymerase gamma catalytic subunit (
), and parkin RBR E3 ubiquitin protein ligase (
), were also discovered. Interestingly, some of these variants had not been previously associated with PD. Enhancing our understanding of the genetic basis of PD and identifying new variants possibly linked to the disease will contribute to improved diagnostic accuracy, therapeutic developments, and prognostic insights for affected individuals.
The distribution of Isidus moreli Mulsant et Rey, 1874 (Elateridae Pomachiliini) in Sicily is updated, a saproxylophagous species linked to dune environments and considered “Vulnerable” in the ...national red lists and “Near Threatened” in the European ones. For this species, the ecological peculiarities are also highlighted and the main threat factors are discussed, underlining the importance of protected areas for its conservation.
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) has been successfully employed in several fields of interest such as biosensing, in-situ catalysis studies, and archeology, in this regard, the production ...of nanostructures for the SERS effect is the core of scientific research. Up to now a lot of different types of metallic nanoparticles and nanosurfaces were produced in trying to match the theoretical enhancement of 1014. This work presents a novel SERS active substrate with a high enhancement and a wide range of exciting wavelengths. Specifically, we synthesize Ag Nanoflowers (AgNFs), spherical silver micro-particles with a diameter of 1.7 μm and a nano-rough surface. When AgNFs are deposited onto a substrate thanks to their dimension is possible, to find a single isolated micro-particle and study the signal enhancement of an analyte adsorbed onto its surface. The SERS properties at a single-particle level were studied using a standard molecule 4-mercaptobenzoic acid (4-MBA). Thanks to their extinction spectrum, expanding throughout the visible range, we were able to systematically study the enhancement for several single Ag NFs with 532, 633, and 785 nm laser wavelengths, finding a maximum enhancement factor in the order of 108- 109. This result is of great interest because demonstrates that such nanomaterial can be easily used to study every kind of analyte at low concentrations with any exciting wavelength thus avoiding other undesired optical phenomena, such as luminescence or degradation of the analyte.
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Several cases of invasive fungal diseases in patients with COVID-19 have been reported, mostly due to
spp., with anecdotic reports of
pneumonia (PJP) as co-infections in immunocompromised patients. ...We describe the first case of PJP in an immunocompetent patient who recovered from COVID-19 pneumonia.
Our patient was hospitalized for 18 d for respiratory failure due to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pneumonia and successfully treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) respiratory support, enoxaparin, ceftaroline and intravenous 6 mg of dexamethasone for 10 d, then with oral prednisone tapering. Despite his improved radiological and clinical conditions at discharge, he was admitted again after 18 d for worsening of respiratory conditions. Upon the second admission, a high-resolution CT-scan of the chest showed the development of new ground-glass opacities and
was detected on bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. A therapy with trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole 20 mg/kg and methylprednisolone 40 mg i.v.
(BID) was started, with improvement of clinical, biochemical and radiological conditions.
COVID-19 patients may have multiple risk factors for development of PJP, in particular lymphopaenia and use of steroids. PJP must be ruled out with direct microbiological methods in patients presenting with radiologic and clinical features of possible or probable PJP, even in immunocompetent hosts.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The definition of Flos Tectorii, originally suggested by F.S. Brancato in the 1980s’ (Brancato, 1986), refers to a unique form of deterioration identified on both aerial and hydraulic mortars used in ...the external walls of historic and contemporary buildings. It is clearly recognizable due to the development of peculiar concentric (occasionally sub-circular) macroscopic forms. At present, there is still a lack of information about the full interpretation of this phenomenon regarding the interaction between the different physicochemical and biological factors that lead to this particular type of degradation. The present study was aimed to examine whether the specific mineralogical and textural characteristics of plasters can promote or hinder the development of Flos Tectorii and, at the same time, to explore if the presence of biodeteriogens is involved in it. The analytical results seem to suggest that the chemical and mineralogical composition of historic mortars does not significantly influence the advance of this phenomenon. At the same time, the isolation of some Actinobacteria suggests that they could act as biodeteriogens in the presence of hygroscopic soluble salts, leading to selective intergranular decohesion of the affected material. Anyhow, the biodeteriogenic role of microorganisms needs to be further investigated.
We previously examined the safety and immunogenicity of multiple vaccines administered to a military cohort, divided into two groups, the first composed of students at military schools, thus ...operating inside the national borders for at least 3 years, and the other formed of soldiers periodically engaged in a 9-month-long mission abroad (Lebanon). In the current study, we analyzed 112 individuals of this cohort, 50 pertaining to the first group and 62 to the second group, in order to examine the possible late appearance of side effects and to calculate the half-life of the induced antibodies. Moreover, the possible involvement of B-cell polyclonal activation as a pathogenetic mechanism for long term antibody persistence has even been explored. No late side effects, as far as autoimmunity and/or lymphoproliferation appearance, have been noticed. The long duration of the vaccine induced anti-HAV antibodies has been confirmed, whereas the antibodies induced by tetravalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine have been found to persist above the threshold for putative protection for a longer time, and anti-tetanus, diphtheria, and polio 1 and 3 for a shorter time than previously estimated. No signs of polyclonal B-cell activation have been found, as a possible mechanism to understand the long antibody persistence.
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