Publications by authors named "Consonni S"

Leishmaniasis is one of the most important neglected diseases, classically characterized by three clinical forms that if left untreated can lead to skin lesions, lifelong scarring, or death depending on the parasite species. Unfortunately, treatment is unsatisfactory and the search for an improved therapy has been a priority. Gold compounds have emerged as promising candidates and among them, Au(I)bis-N-heterocyclic carbene (Au(BzTMX)) has stood out.

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Upon exposure to biological environments, nanoparticles are rapidly coated with biomolecules, predominantly proteins, which alter their colloidal stability, biodistribution, and cell interactions. Despite extensive efforts to investigate the nanoparticles' fate, only a few studies use high-resolution characterization methods that allow in-depth characterization, and the existing methodologies are unable to differentiate particles internalized at the onset of incubation from those taken up toward the end of an incubation period. In this study, these limitations related to incubation disparities are overcame and precisely monitored the spatiotemporal displacement of colloidally stable protein corona-coated nanoparticles within cells.

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The increasing interest in Waste-to-Chemical (WtC) technologies operating with Solid Recovered Fuels (SRF) from non-recyclable plastic streams requires a quantitative analysis on the actual convenience of this alternative valorization pathway. This study assesses SRF in selected WtC technologies for hydrogen and methanol production and compares it with the well-established practice of co-combustion in the cement industry. Two case studies are considered: the first one represents the current scenario where SRF is used in co-combustion for cement production meanwhile the chemical is produced by steam reforming; in the second scenario, the cement plant is fed with pet-coke only, leaving SRF as a feedstock for WtC.

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Background: NEK10, a serine/threonine/tyrosine kinase belonging to the NEK (NIMA-related kinases) family, has been associated with diverse cellular processes. However, no specific target pathways have been identified. Our previous work knocking down NEK10 in HeLa cells suggested a functional association with mitochondria, as we observed altered mitochondrial morphology, mitochondrial oxygen consumption, mtDNA integrity, and reactive oxygen species levels.

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Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a biological blood-derived therapeutic obtained from whole blood that contains higher levels of platelets. PRP has been primarily used to mitigate joint degeneration and chronic pain in osteoarthritis (OA). This clinical applicability is based mechanistically on the release of several proteins by platelets that can restore joint homeostasis.

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Hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons are sensors of signals that reflect the energy stored in the body. Inducing mild stress in proopiomelanocortin neurons protects them from the damage promoted by the consumption of a high-fat diet, mitigating the development of obesity; however, the cellular mechanisms behind these effects are unknown. Here, we induced mild stress in a proopiomelanocortin neuron cell line by inhibiting .

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Glutaminase (GLS), which deaminates glutamine to form glutamate, is a mitochondrial tetrameric protein complex. Although inorganic phosphate (Pi) is known to promote GLS filamentation and activation, the molecular basis of this mechanism is unknown. Here we aimed to determine the molecular mechanism of Pi-induced mouse GLS filamentation and its impact on mitochondrial physiology.

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Chorioamnionitis (CA) at term of pregnancy can have an infectious and/or inflammatory origin and is associated with adverse outcomes. Triple I (intrauterine inflammation, infection, or both, TI) has been proposed to reduce the overdiagnosis of infection and neonatal overtreatment. The aim of this study is to identify clinical and histological variables that could predict adverse outcomes when TI is suspected and/or confirmed.

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Delayed wound healing is a devastating complication of diabetes and supplementation with fish oil, a source of anti-inflammatory omega-3 (ω-3) fatty acids including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), seems an appealing treatment strategy. However, some studies have shown that ω-3 fatty acids may have a deleterious effect on skin repair and the effects of oral administration of EPA on wound healing in diabetes are unclear. We used streptozotocin-induced diabetes as a mouse model to investigate the effects of oral administration of an EPA-rich oil on wound closure and quality of new tissue formed.

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Diabetes mellitus is associated with impaired wound healing. The topical use of insulin is a promising therapy because it may favor all phases of the wound healing process. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic outcomes of insulin gel in wounds of hyperglycemic mice.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Obesity-induced insulin resistance (OIR) is linked to higher rates of neurodegenerative disorders like multiple sclerosis, partly by increasing blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability in brain regions related to appetite control.
  • - The study found that obese mice on a high-fat diet (HFD) were more vulnerable to experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), exhibiting worsened symptoms and significant spinal cord damage compared to control mice.
  • - Analysis revealed that the severity of EAE in obese mice was associated with higher levels of pro-inflammatory immune cells and BBB disruption, suggesting that OIR drives CNS inflammation and worsens autoimmune responses.
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Mayaro virus (MAYV) is an emerging arthropod-borne virus endemic in Latin America and the causative agent of arthritogenic febrile disease. Mayaro fever is poorly understood; thus, we established an in vivo model of infection in susceptible type-I interferon receptor-deficient mice (IFNAR-/-) to characterize the disease. MAYV inoculations in the hind paws of IFNAR-/- mice result in visible paw inflammation, evolve into a disseminated infection and involve the activation of immune responses and inflammation.

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Article Synopsis
  • Pregnancy and childbirth cause changes in the birth canal, particularly impacting the pubic symphysis in mice, which undergo adaptations for delivery and recovery.
  • Research reveals that multiparous (multiple births) female mice have altered tissue morphology and reduced chondrogenic (cartilage-forming) and osteogenic (bone-forming) markers at the symphyseal enthesis compared to primiparous (first-time birthing) mice.
  • These changes may compromise joint recovery and highlight potential issues related to pelvic conditions such as pubic symphysis diastasis (PSD) and pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in women, informing both orthopedic and urogynecological practices.
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Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) signaling mediates host responses to infection, inflammation and anti-tumor immunity. Mutations in the IFN-γ signaling pathway cause immunological disorders, hematological malignancies, and resistance to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in cancer; however, the function of most clinically observed variants remains unknown. Here, we systematically investigate the genetic determinants of IFN-γ response in colorectal cancer cells using CRISPR-Cas9 screens and base editing mutagenesis.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study explored how antibiotic treatment, which depletes gut microbiota, affects the response of mice infected with SARS-CoV-2.
  • After antibiotic treatment, most mice (over 80%) died by day 11, but those treated with antibiotics showed better clinical symptoms despite similar weight loss compared to untreated mice.
  • Overall, the research concluded that depleting microbiota did not significantly influence the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection or the associated immune response in the mice.
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  • Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a major cause of congenital disabilities, prompting a study to assess the rate and risk factors of congenital CMV (cCMV) infection in newborns of immune women.
  • The study involved two parts: the first part analyzed the prevalence of cCMV without any hygiene recommendations, with findings showing a cCMV rate of 0.19% among 9,661 newborns tested.
  • Results indicated that specific factors like twin pregnancies and maternal health conditions are linked to higher cCMV risks, but overall, the low cCMV rate in immune women suggests serological screening might be important to identify those at lower risk for future pregnancies.
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Article Synopsis
  • Obesity leads to low-grade inflammation, increasing the risk of insulin resistance, with leptin being a key player by regulating food intake and being elevated in obese individuals.
  • Leptin enhances macrophage responses to inflammation, promoting cytokine production and changes in mitochondrial function, thereby intensifying the inflammatory response.
  • Intervening in leptin signaling pathways may offer new strategies for treating obesity-related inflammation and improving insulin resistance.
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Objective: To evaluate the performance of third-trimester ultrasound for the diagnosis of clinically significant placenta accreta spectrum disorder (PAS) in women with low-lying placenta or placenta previa.

Methods: This was a prospective multicenter study of pregnant women aged ≥ 18 years who were diagnosed with low-lying placenta (< 20 mm from the internal cervical os) or placenta previa (covering the internal cervical os) on ultrasound at ≥ 26 + 0 weeks' gestation, between October 2014 and January 2019. Ultrasound suspicion of PAS was raised in the presence of at least one of these signs on grayscale ultrasound: (1) obliteration of the hypoechogenic space between the uterus and the placenta; (2) interruption of the hyperechogenic interface between the uterine serosa and the bladder wall; (3) abnormal placental lacunae.

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Although macrophages have long been considered key players in the course of infections, other non-professional phagocytes have lately been shown to maintain low levels of the parasite in safe intracellular niches. Recently, it was demonstrated that the adipose tissue is capable of harboring Old World () in mice. However, there is no evidence of experimental adipocyte infection with New World species so far.

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Due to an increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices, the adoption of microbial volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as antagonists against phytopathogens has emerged as an eco-friendly alternative to the use of agrochemicals. Here, we identified three Pseudomonas strains that were able to inhibit, in vitro, up to 80% of mycelial growth of the phytopathogenic fungus Thielaviopsis ethacetica, the causal agent of pineapple sett rot disease in sugarcane. Using GC/MS, we found that these bacteria produced 62 different VOCs, and further functional validation revealed compounds with high antagonistic activity to T.

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Syndecans belong to the family of transmembrane heparan sulfate proteoglycans and are associated with many physiopathological processes, including oral cancer. As previously shown soluble syndecan-1 (SDC1) fragments and synthetic SDC1 peptide were able to induce cell migration in oral cancer cell lines. In order to explore the role of SDC1 in oral cancer, we have investigated SDC1 interacting partners and its functional role in oral cancer models.

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Skeletal muscle atrophy occurs in several pathological conditions, such as cancer, especially during cancer-induced cachexia. This condition is associated with increased morbidity and poor treatment response, decreased quality of life, and increased mortality in cancer patients. A leucine-rich diet could be used as a coadjutant therapy to prevent muscle atrophy in patients suffering from cancer cachexia.

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Background: The development of techniques in biomaterials design and production added to advanced surgical procedures which enabled better and more predictable clinical outcomes. Maxillary sinus floor augmentation (MSFA) is among the more studied bone-guided regeneration procedure in the literature. The MSFA could be considered the gold standard procedure for bone-guided regeneration as it provides suitable functional and aesthetic solutions to alveolar ridge atrophy due to tooth loss.

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