Introduction: High-resolution manometry (HRM) allows assessment of esophagogastric junction (EGJ) disruption. While type 3 EGJ predicts definitive gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), type 2 EGJ is less clearly implicated in GERD pathogenesis. This study aimed to characterize physiologic findings in type 2 EGJ to determine if the HRM-based Milan Score can define GERD within type 2 EGJ.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnited European Gastroenterol J
December 2024
Background: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) predominantly affects males across all ages; however, little is known about sex differences for other aspects of EoE.
Objective: To investigate associations between sex and clinical presentation, endoscopic features, treatment choice and response in EoE patients in real-world practice.
Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of the multicenter EoE CONNECT registry.
Glaucoma is chronic optic neuropathy whose pathogenesis has been associated with the altered metabolism of Trabecular Meshwork Cells, which is a cell type involved in the synthesis and remodeling of the trabecular meshwork, the main drainage pathway of the aqueous humor. Starting from previous findings supporting altered ubiquitin signaling, in this study, we investigated the ubiquitin-mediated turnover of myocilin (MYOC/TIGR gene), which is a glycoprotein with a recognized role in glaucoma pathogenesis, in a human Trabecular Meshwork strain cultivated in vitro in the presence of dexamethasone. This is a validated experimental model of steroid-induced glaucoma, and myocilin upregulation by glucocorticoids is a phenotypic marker of Trabecular Meshwork strains.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: This study aimed to assess the distribution of esophageal inflammation in patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) and its impact on diagnosis and outcome.
Aims And Methods: Data from consecutive adult EoE patients who were followed-up at four Italian referral centers from October 2022 to October 2023 were retrospectively collected.
Results: One hundred forty-nine patients were included.
Nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, signaling, and scavenging is associated to relevant physiological and pathological events. In all tissues and organs, NO levels and related functions are regulated at different levels, with heme proteins playing pivotal roles. Here, we focus on the structural changes related to the different binding modes of NO to heme-Fe(II), as well as the modulatory effects of this diatomic messenger on heme-protein functions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNitrobindins (Nbs) are all-β-barrel heme proteins present along the evolutionary ladder. They display a highly solvent-exposed ferric heme group with the iron atom being coordinated by the proximal His residue and a water molecule at the distal position. Ferric nitrobindins (Nb(III)) play a role in the conversion of toxic peroxynitrite (ONOO) to harmless nitrate, with the value of the second-order rate constant being similar to those of most heme proteins.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe development of new data storage solutions is crucial for emerging digital technologies. Recently, all-optical magnetic switching has been achieved in dielectrics, proving to be faster than traditional methods. Despite this, single-molecule magnets (SMMs), which are an important class of magnetic materials due to their nanometre size, remain underexplored for ultrafast photomagnetic switching.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEosinophilic gastrointestinal diseases (EGIDs) are rare, chronic inflammatory disorders characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms and clinical presentations vary depending on the site and layer of the gastrointestinal wall infiltrated by eosinophils. Gastrointestinal obstruction is a serious, though uncommon, presentation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnited European Gastroenterol J
June 2024
Objective: A definitive diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) depends on endoscopic and/or pH-study criteria. However, high resolution manometry (HRM) can identify factors predicting GERD, such as ineffective esophageal motility (IEM), esophago-gastric junction contractile integral (EGJ-CI), evaluating esophagogastric junction (EGJ) type and straight leg raise (SLR) maneuver response. We aimed to build and externally validate a manometric score (Milan Score) to stratify the risk and severity of the disease in patients undergoing HRM for suspected GERD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: We aimed to assess the clinical practices and adherence to guidelines for adult Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE) patients in Europe.
Methods: A cross-sectional web survey containing 23 questions was distributed to members of the European Consortium for Eosinophilic Diseases of the Gastrointestinal Tract (EUREOS) and the Italian Association of Hospital Gastroenterologists and digestive endoscopists (AIGO). We conducted a subgroup analysis to assess the impact of EoE expertise and practice setting on clinical practices.
Glaucoma represents a group of progressive neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their axons with subsequent visual field impairment. The disease develops through largely uncharacterized molecular mechanisms, that are likely to occur in different localized cell types, either in the anterior (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMost hemoproteins display an all-α-helical fold, showing the classical three on three (3/3) globin structural arrangement characterized by seven or eight α-helical segments that form a sandwich around the heme. Over the last decade, a completely distinct class of heme-proteins called nitrobindins (Nbs), which display an all-β-barrel fold, has been identified and characterized from both structural and functional perspectives. Nbs are ten-stranded anti-parallel all-β-barrel heme-proteins found across the evolutionary ladder, from bacteria to Homo sapiens.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNitrobindins (Nbs) represent an evolutionary conserved all-β-barrel heme-proteins displaying a highly solvent-exposed heme-Fe(III) atom, coordinated by a proximal His residue. Interestingly, even if the distal side is exposed to the solvent, the value of the second order rate constants for ligand binding to the ferrous derivative is almost one order of magnitude lower than those reported for myoglobins (Mbs). Noteworthy, nitric oxide binding to the sixth coordination position of the heme-Fe(II)-atom causes the cleavage or the severe weakening of the proximal His-Fe(II) bond.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNO binding to horse heart cytochrome c (hhcyt c) has been investigated as a function of pH by both optical absorption and EPR spectroscopies. Lowering pH from 3.5 to 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReaction of 2,2'-bis--Bu-calix[4]arene (HL) with Cu(NO)·3HO and -methyldiethanolamine (Me-deaH) in a basic dmf/MeOH mixture affords [CuII16(L)(Me-dea)(μ-NO)(μ-OH)(dmf)(MeOH)(HO)](HL)·16dmf·4HO (4), following slow evaporation of the mother liquor. The central core of the metallic skeleton describes a tetracapped square prism, [Cu], in which the four capping metal ions are the Cu ions housed in the calix[4]arene polyphenolic pockets. The [CuII8] square prism is held together "internally" by a combination of hydroxide and nitrate anions, with the -methyldiethanolamine co-ligands forming dimeric [CuII2] units which edge-cap above and below the upper and lower square faces of the prism.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNitrobindins (Nbs) are all-β-barrel heme proteins spanning from bacteria to . They inactivate reactive nitrogen species by sequestering NO, converting NO to HNO, and promoting peroxynitrite isomerization to NO. Here, the nitrite reductase activity of Nb(II) from (-Nb(II)), (-Nb(II)), (-Nb(II)), and (-Nb(II)) is reported.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Due to the importance of not mistaking when determining the brain death (BD) diagnostic, reliable confirmatory exams should be performed to enhance its security. This study aims to evaluate the intracranial pressure (ICP) pulse morphology behavior in brain-dead patients through a noninvasive monitoring system.
Methods: A pilot case-control study was conducted in adults that met the BD national protocol criteria.
In 2002 we published an article describing a population of vessel-associated progenitors that we termed mesoangioblasts (MABs). During the past decade evidence had accumulated that during muscle development and regeneration things may be more complex than a simple sequence of binary choices (e.g.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere is currently no cure for neurodegenerative or vascular dementias, but some pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions may contribute to alleviate symptoms, slow disease progression and improve quality of life. Current treatment approaches are based on etiology, symptom profile and stage of dementia. This manuscript presents recommendations on pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments of dementia due to Alzheimer's disease, vascular cognitive impairment, frontotemporal dementia, Parkinson's disease dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF