Tumor-Infiltration Mimicking Model of Contaminated Ovarian Tissue as an Innovative Platform for Advanced Cancer Research.

The development of advanced preclinical models is crucial for the evaluation and validation of novel therapeutic strategies in oncology. Three-dimensional (3D) microtumor models, which incorporate both cancer and stromal cells within biomimetic hydrogels, have emerged as powerful tools that more accurately replicate the complex tumor microenvironment compared to traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems. In this context, our study aims to develop 3D microtumor models by integrating cancer and stromal cells within an extracellular-matrix-mimetic hydrogel, as a physiologically accurate microtumor model that can serve as an innovative platform for advanced cancer research and drug screening.

Decellularized extracellular matrix from bovine ovarian tissue maintains the protein composition of the native matrisome.

Recent approaches of regenerative reproductive medicine investigate the decellularized extracellular matrix to develop a transplantable engineered ovary (TEO). However, a full proteomic analysis is not usually performed after the decellularization process to evaluate the preservation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). In this study, the ECM of the bovine ovarian cortex was analyzed before and after decellularization using mass spectrometry and bioinformatics.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with cancer hospitalized with new onset acute heart failure.

Aims: Limited evidence exists regarding the outcomes of cancer patients hospitalized with new onset acute heart failure (AHF). We assessed the in-hospital mortality and 1 year outcomes of cancer patients admitted for new onset AHF, taking into account both past and active cancer status as well as cancer site.

Methods: We examined administrative data of adult patients hospitalized with a first episode of AHF from 2003 to 2018 in Lombardy, Italy.

The role of phagocytic cells in aging: insights from vertebrate and invertebrate models.

While the main role of phagocytic scavenger cells consists of the neutralization and elimination of pathogens, they also keep the body fluids clean by taking up and breaking down waste material. Since a build-up of waste is thought to contribute to the aging process, these cells become particularly pertinent in the research field of aging. Nevertheless, a direct link between their scavenging functions and the aging process has yet to be established.

Imaging of intracranial arterial disease: a comparison between MRI and unenhanced CT.

Background And Purpose: Arterial calcifications on unenhanced CT scans and vessel wall lesions on MRI are often used interchangeably to portray intracranial arterial disease. However, the extent of pathology depicted with each technique is unclear. We investigated the presence and distribution of these two imaging findings in patients with a history of cerebrovascular disease.

Erythropoietin effects on cryopreserved/transplanted cat ovarian tissue: A comparison of two incubation methods.

Many feline species are currently threatened with extinction. Therefore, germplasm bank establishment has become imperative. However, cryoinjury and ischemia-reperfusion injury pose significant obstacles to both cryopreservation and xenotransplantation.

The Spreading and Effects of Human Recombinant α-Synuclein Preformed Fibrils in the Cerebrospinal Fluid of Mice.

Parkinson's disease (PD) patients harbor seeding-competent α-synuclein (α-syn) in their cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is mainly produced by the choroid plexus (ChP). Nonetheless, little is known about the role of the CSF and the ChP in PD pathogenesis. To address this question, we used an intracerebroventricular (icv) injection mouse model to assess CSF α-syn spreading and its short- and long-term consequences on the brain.

Optimizing Decellularization of Bovine Ovarian Tissue: Toward a Transplantable Artificial Ovary Scaffold with Minimized Residual Toxicity and Preserved Extracellular Matrix Morphology.

Introduction: The decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) from ovarian tissue could be the best scaffold for the development of a transplantable artificial ovary. Typically, dECM from ovarian tissue has been obtained using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), at a concentration of 1% for 24 h. However, SDS can leave residues in the tissue, which may be toxic to the seeded cells.

Risk Factors for Medial and Intimal Intracranial Internal Carotid Artery Calcification in Men and Women with Cardiovascular Disease: The UCC-SMART Study.

Introduction: Calcifications of the intracranial internal carotid artery (iICA) can lead to an increased risk for stroke. Two types of iICA calcification are known: those affecting the tunica intima or the tunica media. In extracranial arteries, risk factors and calcification patterns are different in women and men, but little is known regarding the iICA.

Association between Antiplatelet Therapy and Changes in Intraplaque Hemorrhage in Patients with Mild to Moderate Symptomatic Carotid Stenosis: A Longitudinal MRI Study.

Introduction: Carotid atherosclerotic intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) predicts stroke. Patients with a history of stroke are treated with antiplatelet agents to prevent secondary cardiovascular events. A positive association between previous antiplatelet use and IPH was reported in a cross-sectional analysis.

Prognostic Impact of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Older Patients Hospitalized with Acute Myocardial Infarction: Real-World Findings from the Lombardy Health Database.

Background: Older patients are less likely to receive percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) compared to younger patients. We investigated the prognostic impact of PCI in a large population of patients hospitalized with AMI in the period 2003-2018 by using the administrative Lombardy Health Database (Italy).

Methods: We considered all patients aged ≥75 years hospitalized with AMI (either STEMI or NSTEMI) from 2003 to 2018 in Lombardy.

Definition of protocols for cryopreservation and three-dimensional in vitro culture of prepubertal goat testicular tissue after histomorphological, ultrastructural, and functional analysis.

This study aims to define the best method (slow freezing or vitrification) and fragment size (1, 5, or 9 mm³) for prepubertal goat testis cryopreservation, as well as to evaluate testicular morphological integrity after cryopreservation and in vitro culture (IVC). Initially (experiment I), 1, 5, or 9 mm³ testis fragments were cryopreserved by slow freezing using a Mr. Frosty container with 20% Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or vitrified using the Ovarian Tissue Cryosystem (OTC) device, (Equilibration solution - ES: 10% DMSO and 10% ethylene glycol - EG; Vitrification solution - VS: 20% DMSO and 20% EG) and then subjected to morphological analysis, type I and III collagen quantification and gene expression (Oct4, C-kit, Bax, and Bcl-2).

Effects of erythropoietin on ischaemia-reperfusion when administered before and after ovarian tissue transplantation in mice.

Research Question: Is the optimal timing for administering erythropoietin to minimize ischaemic injury in ovarian tissue transplantation before ovary removal for cryopreservation and subsequent transplantation or after transplantation?

Design: Thirty Swiss mice (nu/nu) were divided into three groups: treatment control group (n = 10); erythropoietin before harvesting group (EPO-BH) (n = 10) and erythropoietin after transplantation group (EPO-AT) (n = 10). Animals underwent bilateral ovariohysterectomy and their hemiovaries were cryopreserved by slow freezing. At the same time, previously cryopreserved hemiovaries were transplanted subcutaneously in the dorsal region.

Ischemic stroke recurrence and mortality in different imaging phenotypes of ischemic cerebrovascular disease: The SMART-MR Study.

Background: Diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease is based on both clinical and radiological findings, however, they do not always correlate.

Aims: To investigate ischemic stroke recurrence and mortality in patients with different imaging phenotypes of ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

Methods: Within the SMART-MR study, a prospective patient cohort with arterial disease, cerebrovascular diseases of participants at baseline were classified as no cerebrovascular disease (reference group,  = 828), symptomatic cerebrovascular disease ( = 204), covert vascular lesions ( = 156), or imaging negative ischemia ( = 90) based upon clinical and MRI findings.

Motorcycle emergency steering assistance: A systematic approach from system definition to benefit estimation and exploratory field testing.

Braking assistance systems are already contributing to improving motorcyclists' safety, however, research on emergency systems acting on the steering is lacking. These systems, already available for passenger cars, could prevent or mitigate motorcycle crashes in which safety functions based only on braking are ineffective. The first research question was to quantify the safety impact of diverse emergency assistance systems acting on the steering of a motorcycle.

On the other end of the line: Extracellular vesicle-mediated communication in glaucoma.

In the last decade, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as a promising field of research due to their ability to participate in cell-to-cell communication the transfer of their very diverse and complex cargo. The latter reflects the nature and physiological state of the cell of origin and, as such, EVs may not only play a pivotal role in the cellular events that culminate into disease, but also hold great potential as drug delivery vehicles and biomarkers. Yet, their role in glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide, has not been fully studied.

Mind the mechanical strength: tailoring a 3D matrix to encapsulate isolated human preantral follicles.

Study Question: Would a hydrogel with similar mechanical properties to the human ovarian cortex support preantral follicle development?

Summary Answer: Yes, our tailored PEGylated fibrin hydrogel was shown to significantly improve follicle growth

What Is Known Already: One of the main challenges in developing an engineered ovary is to provide a 3D matrix that supports the follicle architecture and the interaction between granulosa cells and the oocyte as they are essential for folliculogenesis. Thanks to its biocompatibility and bioactivity, fibrin has been employed to fabricate a 3D matrix to encapsulate ovarian follicles. However, follicles lose their physical support within a few days owing to rapid fibrin degradation.

In Vivo Evaluation of DMSA-Coated Magnetic Nanoparticle Toxicity and Biodistribution in Rats: A Long-Term Follow-Up.

This work presents a long-term follow-up (300 days) of rats after a single intravenous injection of DMSA-coated magnetite nanoparticles (DMSA-MNP). The animals were systematically evaluated by hematological, biochemical, and ultrasound examinations, monitoring the same animal over time. In addition, oxidative stress evaluation, DMSA-MNP biodistribution, computerized tomography for ex vivo organs, and histopathology analysis were performed at the end of the experiment period.

Impact of Prior Statin Therapy on In-Hospital Outcome of STEMI Patients Treated with Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Background: Prior statin therapy has a cardioprotective effect in patients undergoing elective or urgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, data on patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary PCI are still controversial. We retrospectively evaluated the effect of prior statin therapy on in-hospital clinical outcomes in consecutive STEMI patients undergoing primary PCI.

Motorcycle curve assist: A novel approach based on active speed control for crash injury reduction.

Objective: Safely negotiating curves with a powered-two-wheeler (PTW) requires a high level of skill, and a significant proportion of PTW crashes have a curve involvement. This study aimed to estimate the applicability, potential benefits and feasibility of novel Motorcycle Curve Assist (MCA). The system is designed to operate an emergency control of the speed of a motorcycle approaching a bend at an inappropriate speed.

Intracranial atherosclerosis in pseudoxanthoma elasticum: A case-control study.

Background And Aims: Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) is a genetic disorder characterized by systemic calcification of elastin fibers. Additionally, PXE is associated with an increased risk of stroke. It has been hypothesized that this may be caused by accelerated (intracranial) atherogenesis, as a consequence of specific genetic mutations underlying PXE.

Proximal Region of Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque Shows More Intraplaque Hemorrhage: The Plaque at Risk Study.

Background And Purpose: Intraplaque hemorrhage contributes to lipid core enlargement and plaque progression, leading to plaque destabilization and stroke. The mechanisms that contribute to the development of intraplaque hemorrhage are not completely understood. A higher incidence of intraplaque hemorrhage and thin/ruptured fibrous cap (upstream of the maximum stenosis in patients with severe [≥70%] carotid stenosis) has been reported.