Showing papers by "Carlo Cervellati published in 2013"
TL;DR: The data showed that markers of oxidative challenge are associated with bone loss in women in post-menopausal status and suggest that menopause-related estrogen withdrawal might contribute to make bone more vulnerable to oxidative injury thereby increasing the risk of PO development.
Abstract: Background: Post-menopausal osteoporosis (PO) affecting a large fraction of elderly women, is triggered by the decline in 17 β -estradiol (E2) level. Experimental studies in animal models and cell cultures have suggested that the fall in E2 might contribute to developing oxidative stress (OS) which in turn is believed to play an important role in PO pathogenesis. The scarcity of human studies focusing on this issue prompted us to investigate the effects of the reproductive and postreproductive phase of women ’ s life on OS and bone health. Methods: Serum parameters of oxidative challenge (lipid hydroperoxides and protein advanced oxidation products) and antioxidant defence (total serum antioxidants levels) along with bone mineral density (BMD) at femoral neck and lumbar spine were assessed in a sample of 191 women (98 pre- and 93 post-menopausal, of whom 30 osteoporotic). Results: Pearson ’ s correlation analysis unveiled that spinal BMD was negatively correlated with lipid hydroperoxides in overall postmenopausal subsample (r = – 0.251, p = 0.012), while no signifi cant link between these two variables was detected in women in reproductive age (r = – 0.022, p = 0.833). Noteworthy, stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that the association found in post-menopausal women retained signifi cance after adjusting for potential confounding factors (p = 0.001). Conclusions: Our data showed that markers of oxidative challenge are associated with bone loss in women in postmenopausal status. We suggest that menopause-related estrogen withdrawal might contribute to make bone more vulnerable to oxidative injury thereby increasing the risk of PO development.
79 citations
TL;DR: It is suggested that a systemic redox-imbalance leading to OxS might be associated not only with LOAD but also with MCI, and serum levels of hydroperoxides were higher while residual antioxidant power was lower in MCI and LOAD compared with in controls.
Abstract: A large body of evidences obtained in human and animal brain tissue suggest a role of oxidative stress (OxS) in the pathogenesis of late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD); on the contrary, data on peripheral markers of OxS in LOAD are still controversial. We evaluated the serum levels of products of lipid peroxidation, hydroperoxides, advanced oxidation protein products, total and residual antioxidant power, thiols, and uric acid in a sample of 334 older individuals: 101 LOAD patients, 134 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 99 controls. At univariate analysis, serum hydroperoxides were higher while residual antioxidant power was lower in MCI and LOAD compared with in controls. By multivariate logistic regression analysis we found that, compared with controls, high levels (over median value) of serum hydroperoxides were independently associated with an increase in the likehood of having MCI (Odd Ratio: 2.59, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.08-6.21) or LOAD (OR: 4.09, 95%CI: 1.36-11.81). Furthermore, low levels of residual antioxidant power (below the median value) were associated with increased risk of having MCI (OR: 3.97, 95% CI: 1.62-9.72), but not dementia (OR: 2.31, 95%CI: 0.83-6.63). Our study suggests that a systemic redox-imbalance leading to OxS might be associated not only with LOAD but also with MCI.
69 citations
TL;DR: Central fat accumulation was found to be independently associated with higher sUA levels among non-obese women in post- but not among those in pre-menopause.
16 citations
TL;DR: The proteins which the authors observed to exhibit an altered expression in infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma may be exploited as novel targets for therapeutic interventions or represent novel diagnostic/prognostic markers for the early detection of aggressive tumors, particularly those with multridrug-resistant phenotypes during the earlier stages of the disease.
Abstract: The aim of the present study was to analyze the protein composition of ductal breast carcinoma and the surrounding normal tissue in individual patients using comparative 2D proteomics and mass spectrometry to detect candidate disease biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. Samples of normal and cancerous tissue obtained form 28 patients were analyzed. Chaperonins and cytoskeletal proteins predominated among the 11 proteins for which major changes in abundance were detected. Of these 11 proteins with an altered expression, 2 had a decreased expression and 9 had an increased expression. In addition, the abundance of a few cytokeratins was also altered; however, they were not capable of serving as specific circulatory biomarkers. The proteins which we observed to exhibit an altered expression in infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma may be exploited as novel targets for therapeutic interventions or represent novel diagnostic/prognostic markers for the early detection of aggressive tumors, particularly those with multridrug-resistant phenotypes during the earlier stages of the disease.
9 citations
TL;DR: The current data showed that the increase in central fat is an independent predictor of OxS condition among non-obese women in postmenopausal status, and the possible pro-oxidant effects of the excess in central adiposity might be more harmful among post- than among pre-menopausal women.
Abstract: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether accumulation of central fat is correlated with systemic oxidative stress (OxS) in non-obese apparently healthy postmenopausal women. Serum parameters of OxS (hydroperoxides and non-enzymatic antioxidants) along with body fat distribution, as assessed by dual-energy-X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), were evaluated in 134 non-obese postmenopausal women. Multiple regression analysis showed that central (trunk) fat significantly correlated with both markers of OxS independently of confounding factors (i.e. BMI, smoking, age, hypertension, legs and arms fat mass). In specific, the standardized regression coefficient was positive for hydroperoxides (β = 0.324, p < 0.05) and negative for antioxidants (β = -0.495, p < 0.01) level. In conclusion, the current data showed that the increase in central fat is an independent predictor of OxS condition among non-obese women in postmenopausal status. The possible pro-oxidant effects of the excess in central adiposity might be more harmful among post- than among pre-menopausal women, due to the postulated ability of E2 to contrast oxidative challenge and the related diseases.
7 citations
TL;DR: Using a proteomic approach, the precise site of in vitro labelling of the troponin T subunit is determined, in the light of the role of troponins in skeletal and cardiac muscle diseases, and to the rules governing glutamine side chain selection by tissue transglutaminase.
Abstract: Subunit T of the native muscle troponin complex is a recognised substrate of transglutaminase both in vitro and in situ with formation of isopeptide bonds. Using a proteomic approach, we have now determined the precise site of in vitro labelling of the protein. A preparation of troponin purified from ether powder from mixed rabbit skeletal muscles was employed as transglutaminase substrate. The only isoform TnT2F present in our preparation was recognised as acyl-substrate by human type 2 transglutaminase which specifically modified glutamine 13 in the N-terminal region. During the reaction, the troponin protein complex was polymerized. Results are discussed in relation to the structure of the troponin T subunit, in the light of the role of troponins in skeletal and cardiac muscle diseases, and to the rules governing glutamine side chain selection by tissue transglutaminase.
1 citations