Leucine-Enriched Diet Reduces Fecal MPO but Does Not Protect Against DSS Colitis in a Mouse Model of Crohn's Disease-like Ileitis.

Understanding the complex link between inflammation, gut health, and dietary amino acids is becoming increasingly important in the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). This study tested the hypothesis that a leucine-rich diet could attenuate inflammation and improve gut health in a mouse model of IBD. Specifically, we investigated the effects of a leucine-rich diet on dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in germ-free (GF) SAMP1/YitFC (SAMP) mice colonized with human gut microbiota (hGF-SAMP).

Targeting TL1A and DR3: the new frontier of anti-cytokine therapy in IBD.

TNF-like cytokine 1A (TL1A) and its functional receptor, death-domain receptor 3 (DR3), are members of the TNF and TNFR superfamilies, respectively, with recognised roles in regulating innate and adaptive immune responses; additional existence of a decoy receptor, DcR3, indicates a tightly regulated cytokine system. The significance of TL1A:DR3 signalling in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is supported by several converging lines of evidence. Herein, we aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of what is currently known regarding the TL1A/DR3 system in the context of IBD.

TL1A/DR3 signaling regulates the generation of pathogenic Th9 cells in experimental inflammatory bowel disease.

Objective: Death receptor 3 (DR3) and its ligand tumor necrosis factor like ligand 1A (TL1A), are involved in the regulation of the balance between effector and regulatory T cells in IBD. New evidence suggests a role of IL-9-secreting Th9 cells in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC), although the molecular pathways through which IL-9 and Th9 cells may mediate intestinal inflammation in Crohn's disease (CD) are still unclear.

Design: We investigated the role of DR3 signaling in the differentiation of Th9 cells in mouse models of CD-like ileitis and colitis, including SAMP1/YitFc (SAMP) mice.

Clonal from Gut Microfistulous Tracts as Transmissible Cytotoxic Succinate-Commensal Model of Crohn's Disease Complications.

Crohn's disease (CD) has been traditionally viewed as a chronic inflammatory disease that cause gut wall thickening and complications, including fistulas, by mechanisms not understood. By focusing on (presumed modern succinate-producing commensal probiotic), recovered from intestinal microfistulous tracts (cavernous fistulous micropathologies CavFT proposed as intermediate between 'mucosal fissures' and 'fistulas') in two patients that required surgery to remove CD-damaged ilea, we demonstrate that such isolates exert pathogenic/pathobiont roles in mouse models of CD. Our isolates are clonally-related; potentially emerging as transmissible in the community and mice; proinflammatory and adapted to the ileum of germ-free mice prone to CD-like ileitis (SAMP1/YitFc) but not healthy mice (C57BL/6J), and cytotoxic/ATP-depleting to HoxB8-immortalized bone marrow derived myeloid cells from SAMP1/YitFc mice when concurrently exposed to succinate and extracts from CavFT-derived , but not to cells from healthy mice.

MSCs mediate long-term efficacy in a Crohn's disease model by sustained anti-inflammatory macrophage programming via efferocytosis.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are novel therapeutics for the treatment of Crohn's disease. However, their mechanism of action is unclear, especially in disease-relevant chronic models of inflammation. Thus, we used SAMP-1/YitFc (SAMP), a chronic and spontaneous murine model of small intestinal inflammation, to study the therapeutic effects and mechanism of action of human bone marrow-derived MSCs (hMSC).

Mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate inflammation in an experimental model of Crohn's disease via the mesentery.

Objective: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are novel therapeutics for treatment of Crohn's disease. However, their mechanism of action is unclear, especially in disease-relevant chronic models of inflammation. Thus, we used SAMP-1/YitFc, a chronic and spontaneous murine model of small intestinal inflammation, to study the therapeutic effect and mechanism of human bone marrow-derived MSCs (hMSC).

Chronic stress induces colonic tertiary lymphoid organ formation and protection against secondary injury through IL-23/IL-22 signaling.

Psychological stress has been previously reported to worsen symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Similarly, intestinal tertiary lymphoid organs (TLOs) are associated with more severe inflammation. While there is active debate about the role of TLOs and stress in IBD pathogenesis, there are no studies investigating TLO formation in the context of psychological stress.

Parabacteroides distasonis induces depressive-like behavior in a mouse model of Crohn's disease.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are particularly susceptible to behavioral diagnoses, and the microbiome has been repeatedly implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD. The intestinal microbiome's ability to affect behavior has become increasingly recognized and studied. The so-called 'psychobiome' has been linked to a plethora of neurological and psychological diagnoses, including autism and Parkinson's disease.

Neutralization of IL-1α ameliorates Crohn's disease-like ileitis by functional alterations of the gut microbiome.

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic and progressive inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) that are attributed to dysregulated interactions between the gut microbiome and the intestinal mucosa-associated immune system. There are limited studies investigating the role of either IL-1α or IL-1β in mouse models of colitis, and no clinical trials blocking either IL-1 have yet to be performed. In the present study, we show that neutralization of IL-1α by a specific monoclonal antibody against murine IL-1α was highly effective in reducing inflammation and damage in SAMP mice, mice that spontaneously develop a Crohn's-like ileitis.

Human Gut Microbiome Transplantation in Ileitis Prone Mice: A Tool for the Functional Characterization of the Microbiota in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a lifelong digestive disease characterized by periods of severe inflammation and remission. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing a variable effect on ileitis severity from human gut microbiota isolated from IBD donors in remission and that of healthy controls in a mouse model of IBD.

Methods: We conducted a series of single-donor intensive and nonintensive fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiments using feces from IBD patients in remission and healthy non-IBD controls (N = 9 donors) in a mouse model of Crohn's disease (CD)-like ileitis that develops ileitis in germ-free (GF) conditions (SAMP1/YitFC; N = 96 mice).

The Artificial Sweetener Splenda Promotes Gut Proteobacteria, Dysbiosis, and Myeloperoxidase Reactivity in Crohn's Disease-Like Ileitis.

Background: Epidemiological studies indicate that the use of artificial sweeteners doubles the risk for Crohn's disease (CD). Herein, we experimentally quantified the impact of 6-week supplementation with a commercial sweetener (Splenda; ingredients sucralose maltodextrin, 1:99, w/w) on both the severity of CD-like ileitis and the intestinal microbiome alterations using SAMP1/YitFc (SAMP) mice.

Methods: Metagenomic shotgun DNA sequencing was first used to characterize the microbiome of ileitis-prone SAMP mice.

Ultrasound-guided Intracardiac Injection of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Increase Homing to the Intestine for Use in Murine Models of Experimental Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Crohn's disease (CD) is a common chronic inflammatory disease of the small and large intestines. Murine and human mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have immunosuppressive potential and have been shown to suppress inflammation in mouse models of intestinal inflammation, even though the route of administration can limit their homing and effectiveness . Local application of MSCs to colonic injury models has shown greater efficacy at ameliorating inflammation in the colon.

A novel model of colitis-associated cancer in SAMP1/YitFc mice with Crohn's disease-like ileitis.

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at increased risk for developing colorectal cancer. Evidence suggests that colonic dysplasia and colitis-associated cancer (CAC) are often linked to repeated cycles of epithelial cell injury and repair in the context of chronic production of inflammatory cytokines. Several mouse models of CAC have been proposed, including chemical induction through exposure to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) with the genotoxic agents azoxymethane (AOM), 1,2-dymethylhydrazine (DHM) or targeted genetic mutations.

Protective Role for TWEAK/Fn14 in Regulating Acute Intestinal Inflammation and Colitis-Associated Tumorigenesis.

Inflammatory bowel disease causes chronic, relapsing intestinal inflammation that can lead to the development of colorectal cancer. Members of the TNF superfamily are key regulators of intestinal inflammation. In particular, TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) and its receptor, Fn14, are involved in normal and pathologic intestinal tissue remodeling.

Gastroprotective effects of L-lysine salification of ketoprofen in ethanol-injured gastric mucosa.

Ketoprofen L-lysine salt (KLS), a NSAID, is widely used for its analgesic efficacy and tolerability. L-lysine salification was reported to increase the solubility and the gastric absorption and tolerance of ketoprofen. Since the management of NSAIDs gastrotoxicity still represents a major limitation in prolonged therapies, mainly when gastric lesions are present, this study investigated the gastro-protective activity of L-lysine by using a well-established model of gastric mucosa injury, the ethanol-gastric injury model.

FIB/SEM and SEM/EDS microstructural analysis of metal-ceramic and zirconia-ceramic interfaces.

Recently introduced FIB/SEM analysis in microscopy seems to provide a high-resolution characterization of the samples by 3D (FIB) cross-sectioning and (SEM) high resolution imaging. The aim of this study was to apply the FIB/SEM and SEM/EDS analysis to the interfaces of a metal-ceramic vs. two zirconia-ceramic systems.

Hypoxia modulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) in human glioblastoma stem cells. Implications for therapy.

Gliobastoma (GB), the most common adult brain tumor, infiltrates normal brain area rendering impossible the complete surgical resection, resulting in a poor median survival (14-15 months), despite the aggressive multimodality treatments post-surgery, such as radiation and chemo-therapy. GB is characterized by hypoxic and necrotic regions due to a poorly organized tumor vascularization, leading to inadequate blood supply and consequently to hypoxic and necrotic areas. We have previously shown that, under hypoxia GB primary cells increased the expression of stemness markers as well as the expression of the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and also the crucial role played by PPARs in mouse neural stem cells maintenance and differentiation.

Commercial 3y-tzp and nanostructured zirconia for ceramic veneering: a sem study.

Short Communication selected from the Oral Presentations of the 56th Congress of the Groupèment International pour la Recherche Scientifique en Stomatologie et Odontologie, Peñafiel (Portugal) May 2012.

Further study of restored and un-restored teeth subjected to high temperatures.

Forensic dentistry has been shown to be of fundamental importance in medico-legal investigations aimed at identifying human remains involving high temperature incidents because dental remains and prosthetic devices are resistant to quite high thermal change. In this project we studied teeth containing class I and V amalgam and composite fillings and compared them to un-restored teeth when exposed to high temperatures. Twenty five un-restored teeth, 25 teeth with class I amalgam restorations, 25 teeth with class V amalgam restorations and 25 teeth with class I composite fillings were placed in a furnace and heated at a rate of 30 degrees C/min.

Radiographic evaluation of teeth subjected to high temperatures: experimental study to aid identification processes.

The radiographic evaluation of dental remains represents a significant aspect in the forensic identification process, particularly after an exposure to fire. The aim of this "in vitro" study was to evaluate the radiographic features of unrestored, endodontically treated and restored teeth after exposure to an experimental range of high temperatures. Ninety human teeth were divided into two groups: (1) unrestored teeth, as a control group and (2) teeth endodontically treated (condensation technique) and restored with amalgam or composite fillings.

Observations on dental structures when placed in contact with acids: experimental studies to aid identification processes.

In a "mafia" crime case, a magistrate asked us whether it is possible to destroy a cadaver by immersing it in acids, and would it be possible to identify any residues. The aim of this study was to observe the behavior of teeth exposed to four kinds of acid solutions. The teeth were placed in plastic containers with 25 mL of acid and observed.

Observations on dental prostheses and restorations subjected to high temperatures: experimental studies to aid identification processes.

In large scale disasters associated with fire the damage caused by heat can make medico-legal identification of human remains difficult. Teeth, restorations and prostheses, all of which are resistant to even quite high temperatures can be used as aids in the identification process. In this project the behaviour and morphology of teeth and dental prostheses exposed to a range of high temperatures was studied.

[Measurement technics].

Aim of the research has been the evaluation of an image processing technique suggested for measuring procedures in the field of dental materials and devices studies. An analysis of measurement systems and largest employment's equipments in the biotechnologies field has been performed. Particularly, digital and image processing technologies have been considered and, between them, an evaluation of "Image Tool" software, made by UTHSCSA and available freeware on Internet has been carried out.

[Elastomeric chains in orthodontics. An in vitro evaluation of ten different types].

Background: This study is an evaluation and a comparison assessment of ten different types of orthodontics elastomeric chains in an in vitro situation simulating the clinical therapy for the canine tooth distalisation.

Methods: We designed and produced two custom made systems in order to simulate the clinical movement and to measure the elastic recovery. The first device was suitable to activate the elastomeric chains up to 100% of its extension and successively to reduce this extension through the time, as it happens during the clinical practice.