University of Palermo

About: University of Palermo is a education organization based out in Palermo, Italy. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 15621 authors who have published 40250 publications receiving 964384 citations. The organization is also known as: Università degli Studi di Palermo & Universita degli Studi di Palermo.

The amount and proteolytic content of vesicles shed by human cancer cell lines correlates with their in vitro invasiveness.

Abstract: Cancer cells are known to shed extracellular membrane vesicles both in vitro and in vivo. To analyse their possible involvement in the metastatic behaviour of tumours, we measured the Matrigel invasion capability and amounts of vesicles shed by four human tumour cell lines (8701-BC, MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and HT-1080), and by MCF-10A, an immortalised human breast cell line. The proteolytic activity content of vesicles was analysed by gelatin and casein zymographies. While MCF-10A cells do not release a measurable amount of vesicles, all tumour lines analysed, when cultured in presence of serum, shed vesicles rich in MMP-9. Other vesicle-associated proteinases include MMP-2 and uPA. Amounts and proteolytic activities of shed vesicles correlate with the in vitro invasiveness of cells. Since vesicles appear to promote the proteolytic cascade required for the localised degradation of the extracellular matrix, their shedding from cancer cells might represent an important feature of tumour progression.

Visceral adiposity index: an indicator of adipose tissue dysfunction.

Abstract: The Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) has recently proven to be an indicator of adipose distribution and function that indirectly expresses cardiometabolic risk. In addition, VAI has been proposed as a useful tool for early detection of a condition of cardiometabolic risk before it develops into an overt metabolic syndrome. The application of the VAI in particular populations of patients (women with polycystic ovary syndrome, patients with acromegaly, patients with NAFLD/NASH, patients with HCV hepatitis, patients with type 2 diabetes, and general population) has produced interesting results, which have led to the hypothesis that the VAI could be considered a marker of adipose tissue dysfunction. Unfortunately, in some cases, on the same patient population, there is conflicting evidence. We think that this could be mainly due to a lack of knowledge of the application limits of the index, on the part of various authors, and to having applied the VAI in non-Caucasian populations. Future prospective studies could certainly better define the possible usefulness of the VAI as a predictor of cardiometabolic risk.

R-CVP Versus R-CHOP Versus R-FM for the Initial Treatment of Patients With Advanced-Stage Follicular Lymphoma: Results of the FOLL05 Trial Conducted by the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi

Abstract: Purpose Although rituximab (R) is commonly used for patients with advanced follicular lymphoma (FL) requiring treatment, the optimal associated chemotherapy regimen has yet to be clarified. Patients and Methods We conducted an open-label, multicenter, randomized trial among adult patients with previously untreated stages II to IV FL to compare efficacy of eight doses of R associated with eight cycles of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CVP) or six cycles of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) or six cycles of fludarabine and mitoxantrone (FM). The principal end point of the study was time to treatment failure (TTF). Results There were 534 patients enrolled onto the study. Overall response rates were 88%, 93%, and 91% for R-CVP, R-CHOP, and R-FM, respectively (P .247). After a median follow-up of 34 months, 3-year TTFs were 46%, 62%, and 59% for the respective treatment groups (R-CHOP v R-CVP, P .003; R-FM v R-CVP, P .006; R-FM v R-CHOP, P .763). Three-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 52%, 68%, and 63% (overall P .011), respectively, and 3-year overall survival was 95% for the whole series. R-FM resulted in higher rates of grade 3 to 4 neutropenia (64%) compared with R-CVP (28%) and R-CHOP (50%; P .001). Overall, 23 second malignancies were registered during follow-up: four in R-CVP, five in R-CHOP, and 14 in R-FM. Conclusion In this study, R-CHOP and R-FM were superior to R-CVP in terms of 3-year TTF and PFS. In addition, R-CHOP had a better risk-benefit ratio compared with R-FM. J Clin Oncol 31:1506-1513. © 2013 by American Society of Clinical Oncology

Gender-specific association between -1082 IL-10 promoter polymorphism and longevity.

Abstract: Ageing is characterized by a pro-inflammatory status, which could contribute to the onset of major age-related diseases. Thus, genetic variations in pro- or anti-inflammatory cytokines might influence successful ageing and longevity. IL-10 is an appropriate candidate because it exerts powerful inhibitory effects on pro-inflammatory function. IL-10 production is controlled by several polymorphic elements in the 5' flanking region of IL-10 gene on 1q32 locus, involving alleles at two microsatellite regions and several polymorphisms in promoter region. We analysed in 190 Italian centenarians (>99 years old, 159 women and 31 men) and in 260 A, -819C-->T and -592C-->A IL-10 proximal promoter gene biallelic polymorphisms by sequence specific probes. -1082G homozygous genotype was increased in centenarian men (P < 0.025) but not in centenarian women. No difference was found between centenarians and control subjects regarding the other two polymorphisms. The presence of -1082GG genotype, suggested to be associated with high IL-10 production, significantly increases the possibility to reach the extreme limit of human lifespan in men. Together with previous data on other polymorphic loci (Tyrosine Hydroxylase, mitochondrial DNA, IL-6, haemochromatosis, IFN-gamma), this finding points out that that gender is a major variable in the genetics of longevity, suggesting that men and women follow different strategies to reach longevity. Concerning the biological significance of this association, we have not searched for functional proves that IL-10 is involved. Thus, we should conclude that our data only suggest that a marker on 1q32 genomic region may be involved in successful ageing in man. However, recent data on IL-6 and IFN-gamma genes suggest that longevity is negatively associated with genotypes coding for a pro-inflammatory profile. Thus, it is intriguing that the possession of -1082G genotype, suggested to be associated with IL-10 high production, is significantly increased in centenarians.

Selective photocatalytic oxidation of aromatic alcohols in water by using P-doped g-C3N4

Abstract: A set of bare and P-doped graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) photocatalysts has been prepared by thermal condensation of melamine, urea or thiourea. For the sake of comparison, a g-C3N4 sample obtained in the presence of cyanuric acid and thermally exfoliated C3N4 powders were also studied. The materials were physicochemically characterized and their photocatalytic activity was studied for the selective oxidation of benzyl alcohol (BA), 4-methoxy benzyl alcohol (4-MBA) and piperonyl alcohol (PA) in water suspension both under UV and visible light irradiation. The influence of the type and position of the substituents on conversion and selectivity to aldehyde was remarkable. The presence of P in the C3N4 material improved the selectivity of the reaction towards the aldehyde.