Consensus Statement on Brillouin Light Scattering Microscopy of Biological Materials.

Brillouin Light Scattering (BLS) spectroscopy is a non-invasive, non-contact, label-free optical technique that can provide information on the mechanical properties of a material on the sub-micron scale. Over the last decade it has seen increased applications in the life sciences, driven by the observed significance of mechanical properties in biological processes, the realization of more sensitive BLS spectrometers and its extension to an imaging modality. As with other spectroscopic techniques, BLS measurements not only detect signals characteristic of the investigated sample, but also of the experimental apparatus, and can be significantly affected by measurement conditions.

Advantages of integrating Brillouin microscopy in multimodal mechanical mapping of cells and tissues.

Recent research has highlighted the growing significance of the mechanical properties of cells and tissues in the proper execution of physiological functions within an organism; alterations to these properties can potentially result in various diseases. These mechanical properties can be assessed using various techniques that vary in spatial and temporal resolutions as well as applications. Due to the wide range of mechanical behaviors exhibited by cells and tissues, a singular mapping technique may be insufficient in capturing their complexity and nuance.

Progressive alteration of murine bladder elasticity in actinic cystitis detected by Brillouin microscopy.

Bladder mechanical properties are critical for organ function and tissue homeostasis. Therefore, alterations of tissue mechanics are linked to disease onset and progression. This study aims to characterize the tissue elasticity of the murine bladder wall considering its different anatomical components, both in healthy conditions and in actinic cystitis, a state characterized by tissue fibrosis.

Direct Visualization and Identification of Membrane Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels from Human iPSC-Derived Neurons by Multiple Imaging and Light Enhanced Spectroscopy.

In this study, transmission electron microscopy atomic force microscopy, and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy are combined through a direct imaging approach, to gather structural and chemical information of complex molecular systems such as ion channels in their original plasma membrane. Customized microfabricated sample holder allows to characterize Na channels embedded in the original plasma membrane extracted from neuronal cells that are derived from healthy human induced pluripotent stem cells. The identification of the channels is accomplished by using two different approaches, one of them widely used in cryo-EM (the particle analysis method) and the other based on a novel Zernike Polynomial expansion of the images bitmap.

Interseasonal RSV infections in Switzerland - rapid establishment of a clinician-led national reporting system (RSV EpiCH).

In anticipation of an interseasonal respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) epidemic, a clinician-led reporting system was rapidly established to capture RSV infections in Swiss hospitals, starting in January 2021. Here, we present details of the reporting system and first results to June 2021. An unusual epidemiology was observed with an interseasonal surge of RSV infections associated with COVID-19-related non-pharmacological interventions.

MLL4-associated condensates counterbalance Polycomb-mediated nuclear mechanical stress in Kabuki syndrome.

The genetic elements required to tune gene expression are partitioned in active and repressive nuclear condensates. Chromatin compartments include transcriptional clusters whose dynamic establishment and functioning depend on multivalent interactions occurring among transcription factors, cofactors and basal transcriptional machinery. However, how chromatin players contribute to the assembly of transcriptional condensates is poorly understood.

A novel strategy for molecular interfaces optimization: The case of Ferritin-Transferrin receptor interaction.

Protein-protein interactions regulate almost all cellular functions and rely on a fine tune of surface amino acids properties involved on both molecular partners. The disruption of a molecular association can be caused even by a single residue mutation, often leading to a pathological modification of a biochemical pathway. Therefore the evaluation of the effects of amino acid substitutions on binding, and the design of protein-protein interfaces, is one of the biggest challenges in computational biology.

Exploring the Use of Dimethyl Fumarate as Microglia Modulator for Neurodegenerative Diseases Treatment.

The maintenance of redox homeostasis in the brain is critical for the prevention of the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Drugs acting on brain redox balance can be promising for the treatment of neurodegeneration. For more than four decades, dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and other derivatives of fumaric acid ester compounds have been shown to mitigate a number of pathological mechanisms associated with psoriasis and relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Dimethyl Fumarate Reduces Microglia Functional Response to Tissue Damage and Favors Brain Iron Homeostasis.

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) is the only available approved drug for first line treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS), a lethal condition impairing central nervous system (CNS). To date, however, little is known of its mechanisms of action. Only recently, it has been suggested that DMF exerts neuroprotective effects acting as an immunomodulator and that it may alter the activation state of microglia cells, crucial in MS pathogenesis.

Structural analysis of the transferrin receptor multifaceted ligand(s) interface.

The transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) is one of the key regulators of iron homeostasis for most higher organisms. It mediates cellular iron import through a constitutive clathrin-dependent endocytosis mechanism and by recruiting iron- regulator proteins as transferrin, Hereditary Hemochromatosis factor (HFE) and serum ferritin in response to cellular demand. The receptor is also opportunistically exploited by several viruses and the malaria parasite as a preferential door for cell invasion.

Cryo-EM structure of the human ferritin-transferrin receptor 1 complex.

Human transferrin receptor 1 (CD71) guarantees iron supply by endocytosis upon binding of iron-loaded transferrin and ferritin. Arenaviruses and the malaria parasite exploit CD71 for cell invasion and epitopes on CD71 for interaction with transferrin and pathogenic hosts were identified. Here, we provide the molecular basis of the CD71 ectodomain-human ferritin interaction by determining the 3.

Engineered ferritin for lanthanide binding.

Ferritin H-homopolymers have been extensively used as nanocarriers for diverse applications in the targeted delivery of drugs and imaging agents, due to their unique ability to bind the transferrin receptor (CD71), highly overexpressed in most tumor cells. In order to incorporate novel fluorescence imaging properties, we have fused a lanthanide binding tag (LBT) to the C-terminal end of mouse H-chain ferritin, HFt. The HFt-LBT possesses one high affinity Terbium binding site per each of the 24 subunits provided by six coordinating aminoacid side chains and a tryptophan residue in its close proximity and is thus endowed with strong FRET sensitization properties.

Subcellular localization of the five members of the human steroid 5α-reductase family.

In humans the steroid 5alpha-reductase (SRD5A) family comprises five integral membrane enzymes that carry out reduction of a double bond in lipidic substrates: Δ-3-keto steroids, polyprenol and trans-enoyl CoA. The best-characterized reaction is the conversion of testosterone into the more potent dihydrotestosterone carried out by SRD5A1-2. Some controversy exists on their possible nuclear or endoplasmic reticulum localization.

Humanized archaeal ferritin as a tool for cell targeted delivery.

Human ferritins have been extensively studied to be used as nanocarriers for diverse applications and could represent a convenient alternative for targeted delivery of anticancer drugs and imaging agents. However, the most relevant limitation to their applications is the need for highly acidic experimental conditions during the initial steps of particle/cargo assembly, a process that could affect both drug stability and the complete reassembly of the ferritin cage. To overcome this issue the unique assembly of Archaeoglobus fulgidus ferritin was genetically engineered by changing a surface exposed loop of 12 amino acids connecting B and C helices to mimic the sequence of the analogous human H-chain ferritin loop.

[The burn patient: factors associated with post-traumatic stress disorder and directions for intervention].

Aim: Starting from the evidence that not all burn patients develop a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the aim of this overview was to describe variables, which favour the development of the disorder following to burn injury and to delineate directions for a treatment.

Methods: We searched articles in English related to PTSD in the population suffering from burns in the PubMed database, using the key word 'burn' in combination with: PTSD, traumatic event, trauma, ASD, and psychological factors. We concentrated our attention on articles published in the last decade (January 1998-March 2010).

Chronic myeloid leukaemia and hairy cell leukaemia coexisting in a single patient: difficulties at diagnosis and rational of the therapeutic strategy.

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and hairy cell leukemia (HCL) are two distinct haematological disorders. Only one single case of coexistence of the two pathologies at diagnoses has been previously reported. We present a second case of coexistence at diagnosis, indicating the diagnostic procedures involving morphological, immunophenotyping, and molecular testing.

Symptomatic efficacy of stabilizing treatment versus laser therapy for sub-acute low back pain with positive tests for sacroiliac dysfunction: a randomised clinical controlled trial with 1 year follow-up.

Aim: Back pain is a highly frequent condition due to many causes, although most of them cannot be established with certainty. It is also the current clinical and scientific belief that sacroiliac joint syndrome can be a specific low back pain cause. Nonetheless the existence of clinical tests aimed at highlighting the responsibility for lumbar pain secondary to sacroiliac dysfunction, it is not easy to diagnose it with either manual or instrumental means.

Carboxy-terminal fragment of osteogenic growth peptide in vitro increases bone marrow cell density in idiopathic myelofibrosis.

Idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF) is a clonal stem cell disorder characterized by reactive fibrosis of bone marrow sustained by a complex cytokine network. At present, no efficacious therapy for this disease exists. Synthetic carboxy-terminal pentapeptide of osteogenic growth factor (sOGP10-14) can increase bone marrow cellularity and the number of haematopoietic colonies; this study evaluated the activity of sOGP10-14 in IMF.

Unusual morphology in a case of large granular cell leukemia.

Large granular lymphocyte proliferative status represents a group of clonal and nonclonal lymphoproliferative disorders of natural killer (NK) or T-cell lineages with common morphological features. Cellular differences may sustain the clinical polymorphism observed in these disorders. Here we report a case of large granular lymphocyte disease unusually expressing CD4+CD8+ clonal T cells and atypical cell morphology in bone marrow.

Interferon-alpha activity in a case of severe autoimmune lymphoproliferative disease.

Autoimmune lymphoproliferative disease (ALD) is a rare familial disorder. Clinical and laboratory features of this disease include a generalized lymphadenopathy, splenomegaly, increased levels of circulating CD3+ with low levels of CD4+, CD8+ T-cells, and autoimmune phenomena, characteristics that the autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome (ALPS) have in common. Treatment usually consists of different supportive therapies.

Behçet's disease with gastrointestinal involvement associated with myelodysplasia in a patient with congenital panhypopituitarism.

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are hematologic disorders characterised by peripheral cytopenias and the hystologic features of hematologic dysplasia. Their association with autoimmune manifestations have been suggested by several authors: recently, the appearance of Behçet's disease during MDS has been reported. We describe the occurrence of MDS in a patient affected by Behçet's syndrome with gastrointestinal involvement and congenital panhypopituitarism.

Hibernoma of the larynx. Review of the literature and a new case.

Hibernoma is a rare, benign, soft-tissue tumour composed of cells similar to those of brown adipose tissue. Only seven cases in the cervical area have been reported and none in the larynx. A case of hibernoma of the pre-epiglottic area is presented and the histological, histogenetical and clinical features are discussed.

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery, and postoperative radiation therapy for invasive thymoma.

Between January 1988 and June 1990, seven previously untreated patients with histologically confirmed and clinically staged IIIa invasive thymoma (IT) were enrolled in a prospective, single treatment arm study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC) followed by surgery and postoperative radiation therapy (4600 to 6000 cGy). The NC included three cycles of cisplatin (75 mg/m2 on day 1), epirubicin (100 mg/m2 on day 1), and etoposide (120 mg/m2 on days 1, 3, and 5), every 3 weeks. All patients showed a partial response (greater than 50%) and underwent complete (n = 4) or incomplete (gross [n = 1] or microscopic [n = 2] residual tumor) surgical resection.

[Diagnostic reflections on lung lymphangioleiomyomatosis].

Two cases of histologically proven pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis were studied by means of an adequate combination of the current imaging modalities. After an anatomical survey of the secondary pulmonary lobule, the authors discuss the pathologic appearance, the pathogenetic factors (mainly hormones), and the diagnostic problems concerning this pathologic condition. Finally, the authors emphasize the decisive role of high-resolution CT (HRCT) in the evaluation of pulmonary lymphangioleiomyomatosis.