Current medical practice for determining hemoglobin concentration (which is especially important for anemic patients in need of blood transfusion) involves frequent blood tests. In this work, we ...propose an alternative, non-invasive approach to hemoglobin estimation, based on image analysis of a specific conjunctival region. Our ultimate goal is to develop an easy-to-use wearable device that patients themselves can employ at home to autonomously assess their need of blood transfusion. In this paper, we detail the prototype of our device and the methodology for extracting key information from the color values of the acquired image. Tests conducted on 77 anemic and healthy patients show significant correlation between the real hemoglobin value obtained through blood sampling and the value estimated by our algorithm. A prototypical binary classification algorithm for assessing the need of blood transfusion yielded good results in terms of accuracy, specificity and sensitivity, thus making it possible to avoid a significant number of blood tests.
Several examples of the complexes, M(P2W17O61)2n− (M=UIV, ThIV, CeIII), containing both α1 (C1) and α2 (Cs) isomers of the tungstophosphate ligands, have been synthesized and characterized by X-ray ...crystallography and 31P NMR spectroscopy. In every case the heteroatom M has the anticipated square antiprism coordination. When both ligands are α2 (the UIV and CeIII complexes) the solid state structure adopts a syn-conformation of the ligands, as had been previously demonstrated for M=CeIV and LuIII; in solution a single set of P-NMR lines is observed, consistent with a single unique structure or rapid interconversion of syn- and anti-forms. When one or both ligands are α1 (Uα1α1, Uα1α2, Thα1α1, Ceα1α2) multiline P-NMR spectra reveal the presence of two major diastereomers in solution, presumably the syn- and anti-forms. In the solid state, crystals of ammonium or potassium salts of the U and Ce complexes contain anti-conformers, while the Th complex proves to be syn. Variable temperature (∼25–∼60°C) P-NMR spectroscopy of solutions of the Uα1α1 complex reveals the onset of syn-anti interconversion together with the irreversible formation of minor amounts of other diastereomers generated by dissociation and scrambling of the enantiomers of the polytungstate ligands.
Head and Neck Cancer Prevention Chiesa, Fausto; Ostuni, Angelo; Grigolato, Roberto ...
Head and Neck Cancer,
05/2011
Book Chapter
Head and neck cancer (HNC) represents a broad spectrum of diseases that involves the nasal and oropharyngeal cavities, the paranasal sinuses, the major and minor salivary glands, the larynx and the ...lymphatic tissues of the neck. The world-wide yearly incidence exceeds over half a million cases. Tobacco (smoking and smokeless) and alcohol use are the principal risk factors, however, a substantial and increasing proportion of head and neck tumors cannot be attributed to these. Recent evidence has shown that the incidence of oropharyngeal cancer among women and younger patients continues to grow and it is not related to alcohol or tobacco use but to human papillomavirus infection. Substantial advances in treatment regimens made over the last two decades have not improved the 5-year mortality rate that remains approximately 50%. Prevention represents the best opportunity to improve oncologic results and it consists of three levels of intervention: primary prevention (considered the best) aims to avoid exposure to established risk factors; secondary prevention consists of early diagnosis; tertiary prevention involves active management of patients already treated for HNC. In this chapter, we review the natural history of oral cavity and laryngeal cancer as well as the known mechanisms of carcinogenesis. Precancer and risk markers for cancer are discussed as they relate to prevention in all its forms (primary, secondary, and tertiary). Chemoprevention is the use of natural or synthetic chemicals to reverse, suppress, or prevent the conversion of a premalignant lesion to a true neoplasm. It spans all three forms of prevention and it can aim at both local and locoregional disease control. All of the major important chemoprevention clinical trials reported on in the scientific literature are presented and discussed critically and their impact on clinical practice is presented. Attention is given to new directions in the field and how HNC prevention may progress through the search for new, sensitive, and specific biomarkers as well as an improved understanding of the biomolecular mechanisms of tumor invasion, metastasis, and the newly acquired data from the Human Genome Project. Improvement in HNC prevention requires a multidisciplinary approach to face complex processes and multiple factors that may act concurrently in the etiology of disease. Future challenges remain in the correct interpretation of new findings and their wise and scientific application. Only then will we be able to impact the field of HNC, transforming prevention in the only form of cure.
Aberrant induction of type I IFN is a hallmark of the inherited encephalopathy Aicardi-Goutières syndrome (AGS), but the mechanisms triggering disease in the human central nervous system (CNS) remain ...elusive. Here, we generated human models of AGS using genetically modified and patient-derived pluripotent stem cells harboring TREX1 or RNASEH2B loss-of-function alleles. Genome-wide transcriptomic analysis reveals that spontaneous proinflammatory activation in AGS astrocytes initiates signaling cascades impacting multiple CNS cell subsets analyzed at the single-cell level. We identify accumulating DNA damage, with elevated R-loop and micronuclei formation, as a driver of STING- and NLRP3-related inflammatory responses leading to the secretion of neurotoxic mediators. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of proapoptotic or inflammatory cascades in AGS astrocytes prevents neurotoxicity without apparent impact on their increased type I IFN responses. Together, our work identifies DNA damage as a major driver of neurotoxic inflammation in AGS astrocytes, suggests a role for AGS gene products in R-loop homeostasis, and identifies common denominators of disease that can be targeted to prevent astrocyte-mediated neurotoxicity in AGS.
Organ injury stimulates the formation of new capillaries to restore blood supply raising questions about the potential contribution of neoangiogenic vessel architecture to the healing process. Using ...single-cell mapping, we resolved the properties of endothelial cells that organize a polarized scaffold at the repair site of lesioned peripheral nerves. Transient reactivation of an embryonic guidance program is required to orient neovessels across the wound. Manipulation of this structured angiogenic response through genetic and pharmacological targeting of Plexin-D1/VEGF pathways within an early window of repair has long-term impact on configuration of the nerve stroma. Neovessels direct nerve-resident mesenchymal cells to mold a provisionary fibrotic scar by assembling an orderly system of stable barrier compartments that channel regenerating nerve fibers and shield them from the persistently leaky vasculature. Thus, guided and balanced repair angiogenesis enables the construction of a "bridge" microenvironment conducive for axon regrowth and homeostasis of the regenerated tissue.
Aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of ospemifene in the prevention of recurrent lower urinary tract infections in postmenopausal women with vulvovaginal atrophy. The study have a ...retrospective design. Thirty-nine patients were enrolled. Patients underwent clinical examination and urine culture. The urinary symptoms and the quality of life were evaluated with UTISA score, PUF and SF-36 questionnaires before and after treatment. All 39 patients received ospemifene 60 mg one tablet/daily for 6 months. Adverse effects and complications were assessed. Thirty-nine patients were enrolled in the study. Two patients experienced one new UTI episode and the mean number of positive urine culture decreased significantly after 6 months (3.65 ± 2.12 vs 0.25 ± 0.17, p < .0001). The mean number of urinary infection symptoms decreased significantly after treatment; dysuria reduced (4.76 ± 2.45 vs 0.89 ± 1.12). PUF score and SF-36 showed a statistically significant change (22.43 ± 5.89 vs 12.14 ± 3.21) and (52.86 ± 9.21 vs 83.43 ± 10.76). No adverse effects were reported and the total success rate was the 92.3% after 6 months at PGI-I. Ospemifene is a valid alternative with excellent tolerability for the UTI
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prevention in postmenopausal patients.
