University of Modena and Reggio Emilia

About: University of Modena and Reggio Emilia is a education organization based out in Modena, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Transplantation. The organization has 8179 authors who have published 22418 publications receiving 671337 citations. The organization is also known as: Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia & Universita degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia.

Describing shapes by geometrical-topological properties of real functions

Abstract: Differential topology, and specifically Morse theory, provide a suitable setting for formalizing and solving several problems related to shape analysis The fundamental idea behind Morse theory is that of combining the topological exploration of a shape with quantitative measurement of geometrical properties provided by a real function defined on the shape The added value of approaches based on Morse theory is in the possibility of adopting different functions as shape descriptors according to the properties and invariants that one wishes to analyze In this sense, Morse theory allows one to construct a general framework for shape characterization, parametrized with respect to the mapping function used, and possibly the space associated with the shape The mapping function plays the role of a lens through which we look at the properties of the shape, and different functions provide different insightsIn the last decade, an increasing number of methods that are rooted in Morse theory and make use of properties of real-valued functions for describing shapes have been proposed in the literature The methods proposed range from approaches which use the configuration of contours for encoding topographic surfaces to more recent work on size theory and persistent homology All these have been developed over the years with a specific target domain and it is not trivial to systematize this work and understand the links, similarities, and differences among the different methods Moreover, different terms have been used to denote the same mathematical constructs, which often overwhelm the understanding of the underlying common frameworkThe aim of this survey is to provide a clear vision of what has been developed so far, focusing on methods that make use of theoretical frameworks that are developed for classes of real functions rather than for a single function, even if they are applied in a restricted manner The term geometrical-topological used in the title is meant to underline that both levels of information content are relevant for the applications of shape descriptions: geometrical, or metrical, properties and attributes are crucial for characterizing specific instances of features, while topological properties are necessary to abstract and classify shapes according to invariant aspects of their geometry The approaches surveyed will be discussed in detail, with respect to theory, computation, and application Several properties of the shape descriptors will be analyzed and compared We believe this is a crucial step to exploit fully the potential of such approaches in many applications, as well as to identify important areas of future research

Clinical and Experimental Applications of Sodium Phenylbutyrate

Abstract: Histone acetyltransferase and histone deacetylase are enzymes responsible for histone acetylation and deacetylation, respectively, in which the histones are acetylated and deacetylated on lysine residues in the N-terminal tail and on the surface of the nucleosome core. These processes are considered the most important epigenetic mechanisms for remodeling the chromatin structure and controlling the gene expression. Histone acetylation is associated with gene activation. Sodium phenylbutyrate is a histone deacetylase inhibitor that has been approved for treatement of urea cycle disorders and is under investigation in cancer, hemoglobinopathies, motor neuron diseases, and cystic fibrosis clinical trials. Due to its characteristics, not only of histone deacetylase inhibitor, but also of ammonia sink and chemical chaperone, the interest towards this molecule is growing worldwide. This review aims to update the current literature, involving the use of sodium phenylbutyrate in experimental studies and clinical trials.

Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells as Stable Source of Tumor Necrosis Factor–Related Apoptosis-Inducing Ligand Delivery for Cancer Therapy

Abstract: Adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (AD-MSC) may offer efficient tools for cell-based gene therapy approaches. In this study, we evaluated whether AD-MSC could deliver proapoptotic molecules for cancer treatment. Human AD-MSCs were isolated and transduced with a retroviral vector encoding full-length human tumor necrosis factor–related apoptosis-inducing ligand ( TRAIL ), a proapoptotic ligand that induces apoptosis in a variety of human cancers but not normal tissues. Although several studies have documented the antitumor activity of recombinant human TRAIL, its use in vivo is limited by a short half-life in plasma due to a rapid clearance by the kidney. We found that these limitations can be overcome using stably transduced AD-MSC, which could serve as a constant source of TRAIL production. AD-MSC armed with TRAIL targeted a variety of tumor cell lines in vitro , including human cervical carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, and, in combination with bortezomib, TRAIL-resistant breast cancer cells. Killing activity was associated with activation of caspase-8 as expected. When injected i.v. or s.c. into mice, AD-MSC armed with TRAIL localized into tumors and mediated apoptosis without significant apparent toxicities to normal tissues. Collectively, our results provide preclinical support for a model of TRAIL-based cancer therapy relying on the use of adipose-derived mesenchymal progenitors as cellular vectors. Cancer Res; 70(9); 3718–29. ©2010 AACR.

Reflectance-mode confocal microscopy of pigmented skin lesions--improvement in melanoma diagnostic specificity.

Abstract: Background In vivo confocal microscopy enables skin visualization with a quasihistopathologic resolution. Objective We sought to describe confocal features in melanocytic lesions and to evaluate their diagnostic significance for melanoma (MM) identification. Methods Thirty seven MMs, 49 acquired nevi, and 16 Spitz/Reed nevi, presenting equivocal clinicodermoscopic aspects were investigated by confocal microscopy. Results MMs and nevi significantly differed for some aspects. In multivariate analysis, the presence of nonedged dermal papillae, atypical cells, and isolated nucleated cells within dermal papilla, pagetoid cells, widespread pagetoid infiltration, and cerebriform clusters were strongly correlated with MM diagnosis. A receiver operating characteristic curve value of 0.952 was obtained. Limitations Spitz/Reed nevi represented a pitfall in confocal diagnosis, owing to the frequent observation of pagetoid infiltration, architectural disarray, and cytologic atypia, and to the impossibility of evaluating cell maturation with depth. Conclusion Characterization of confocal microscopy features of MMs and nevi seems to improve diagnostic accuracy for melanocytic lesions that are difficult to diagnose.