Ovarian Cancer Cells in Ascites Form Aggregates That Display a Hybrid Epithelial-Mesenchymal Phenotype and Allows Survival and Proliferation of Metastasizing Cells

Peritoneal metastases are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in ovarian cancer. Cancer cells float in peritoneal fluid, named ascites, together with a definitely higher number of non neo-neoplastic cells, as single cells or multicellular aggregates. The aim of this work is to uncover the features that make these aggregates the metastasizing units. Immunofluorescence revealed that aggregates are made almost exclusively of ovarian cancer cells expressing the specific nuclear PAX8 protein. The same cells expressed epithelial and mesenchymal markers, such as EPCAM and αSMA, respectively. Expression of fibronectin further supported a hybrid epithelia-mesenchymal phenotype, that is maintained when aggregates are cultivated and proliferate. Hematopoietic cells as well as macrophages are negligible in the aggregates, while abundant in the ascitic fluid confirming their prominent role in establishing an eco-system necessary for the survival of ovarian cancer cells. Using ovarian cancer cell lines, we show that cells forming 3D structures neo-expressed thoroughly fibronectin and αSMA. Functional assays showed that αSMA and fibronectin are necessary for the compaction and survival of 3D structures. Altogether these data show that metastasizing units display a hybrid phenotype that allows maintenance of the 3D structures and the plasticity necessary for implant and seeding into peritoneal lining.     

Mixed micelles containing lipophilic gadolinium complexes as MRA contrast agents

Mixed micelles for MRA are multicomponent systems containing a phospholipid, a biocompatible non-ionic surfactant (e.g. Synporonic^(k) F-108) and a lipophilic gadolinium complex. A variety of lipophilic gadolinium complexes were designed taking into account features such as: (i) nature of ligand (cyclic versus acyclic); (ii) lipophilic moiety; (iii) global charge of the complex; and (iv) nature of bond connecting the complex to the lipophilic moiety. All the lipophilic gadolinium complexes after formulation as mixed micelles show high relaxivities in water and in blood (rat). Mixed micelles containing gadolinium complexes bearing only one aliphatic chain cannot be used as MRA contrast agents because they have a high haemolytic effect. Furthermore, in rats they are quickly eliminated from the blood stream. These drawbacks are completely circumvented using gadolinium complexes bearing two aliphatic chains. Mixed micelles containing such complexes show high relaxivities. no haemolytic effect and long blood permanence. This makes them promising candidates as MRA contrast agents. However, elimination, which occurs exclusively through the liver, is not complete, even after 7 days. Complexes containing labile (e.g. ester) bonds between the lipophilic moieties and the chelate subunit are eliminated through both the liver and the kidneys. However, elimination is stiil not complete after 7 days.     

Thermoelectric performance of disordered and nanostructured graphene ribbons using Green’s function method

The thermoelectric properties of defected graphene nanoribbons (GNRs) and multi-junction (MJ) GNRs coupling periodic armchair sections of different width are analyzed by means of Green’s function techniques to simulate electron and phonon transport. Among the different strategies likely to enhance the thermoelectric performance, the effects of edge disorder and random vacancies are shown to be small since they lead to the concomitant degradation of the phonon thermal conductance and of the electronic conductance, which finally reduces the thermoelectric factor ZT. However, the periodic distribution of vacancies and the structuring of GNRs in MJ-GNRs both lead to the enhancement of the figure of merit ZT. In the latter case, in addition to the strong reduction of the phonon thermal conductance, an effect of resonant tunneling of electrons allows retaining high electronic conductance and enhancing significantly the thermopower. Finally, by introducing a periodic distribution of vacancies in the MJ-GNR, the maximum value ZT=0.4 is reached at room temperature.     

Polymerization of bicyclic ethers

Summary Structure of copolymers obtained by ring opening cationic polymerization from 7-oxabicyclo[ 2.2.1] heptane and ethylene oxide has been recently reported. This study about the spin lattice relaxation times and Nuclear Overhauser enhancement factor in the carbon-13 NMR spectra was performed and the results interpreted in terms of different internal mobility of the units in the copolymer chain.Previous papers in this series are: G. CECCARELLI, F.ANDRUZZI, Makromol. Chem. 180, 1371(1979); F.ANDRUZZI, G.CECCARELLI, M.PACI Polymer 21, 1180(1980); and ref (M.PACI et al. 1981).     

Recovery of Staphylococcus aureus in Gray Mugil cephalus Roe (Bottarga): Investigation by an Integrated Cultural/Molecular Approach

In the Mediterranean area, salted and dried roe from the gray Mugil cephalus “bottarga” represent a speciality food with great commercial value. Bottarga is currently produced by a traditional handmade process and, the risk of human bacterial contamination during its manufacturing is still unknown; in this perspective the foodborne pathogen Staphylococcus aureus could potentially contaminate this product due to poor sanitation or bad handling during processing. The aim of this work is: to evaluate the contamination level of foodborne pathogens at different product manufacturing stages and, in addition, to describe a fast and realizable method for the rapid detection of S. aureus in bottarga samples in the field. A cultural procedure was initially used to investigate the occurrence of S. aureus and the other main foodborne pathogens in bottarga samples at the different manufacturing stages (from roe to final product). In addition, a molecular approach was used to rapidly determine the presence of total bacteria, S. aureus, and its potential toxigenicity. Of the 194 specimens analyzed, we identified: Clostridium perfringens, Enterococcus spp. and Enterobacteriaceae. However, some samples resulted as being contaminated with S. aureus (4% in roe and 8.7% in the final product). During the bottarga manufacturing process, we observed an increase in pathogen levels (from 10² to 10⁵ CFU/g) in contaminated samples, and entA and entB genotypes were identified. Reconstruction experiments suggest that the fresh roe and the bottarga (not completely dried) could represent a risk for the contamination and growth of pathogen bacteria.     

Growth on poly(l-lactic acid) porous scaffold preserves CD73 and CD90 immunophenotype markers of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells

Few data are available on the effect of biomaterials on surface antigens of mammalian bone marrow-derived, adult mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). Since poly(l-lactic acid) or PLLA is largely used in tissue engineering of human bones, and we are developing a reverse engineering program to prototype with biomaterials the vascular architecture of bones for their bioartificial reconstruction, both in humans and animal models, we have studied the effect of porous, flat and smooth PLLA scaffolds on the immunophenotype of in vitro grown, rat MSCs in the absence of any coating, co-polymeric enrichment, and differentiation stimuli. Similar to controls on plastic, we show that our PLLA scaffold does not modify the distribution of some surface markers in rat MSCs. In particular, the maintained expression of CD73 and CD90 on two different subpopulations (small and large cells) is consistent with their adhesion to the PLLA scaffold through specialized appendages, and to their prominent content in actin. In addition, our PLLA scaffold favours retention of the intermediate filament desmin, believed a putative marker of undifferentiated state. Finally, it preserves all rat MSCs morphotypes, and allows for their survival, adhesion to the substrate, and replication. Remarkably, a subpopulation of rat MSCs grown on our PLLA scaffold exhibited formation of membrane protrusions of uncertain significance, although in a size range and morphology compatible with either motility blebs or shedding vesicles. In summary, our PLLA scaffold has no detrimental effect on a number of features of rat MSCs, primarily the expression of CD73 and CD90.     

Kinetic theory of geodesic acoustic modes in toroidal plasmas: a brief review

Geodesic acoustic modes(GAM) are oscillating zonal structures unique to toroidal plasmas,and have been extensively studied in the past decades due to their potential capabilities of regulating microscopic turbulences and associated anomalous transport.This article reviews linear and nonlinear theories of GAM;with emphases on kinetic treatment,system nonuniformity and realistic magnetic geometry,in order to reflect the realistic experimental conditions.Specifically,in the linear physics,the resonant wave–particle interactions are discussed,with the application to resonant excitation by energetic particles(EPs).The theory of EP-induced GAM(EGAM) is applied to realistic devices for the interpretation of experimental observations,and global effects due to coupling to GAM continuum are also discussed.Meanwhile,in the nonlinear physics,the spontaneous GAM excitation by microscale turbulences is reviewed,including the effects of various system nonuniformities.A unified theoretical framework of GAM/EGAM is then constructed based on our present understandings.The first-principle-based GAM/EGAM theories reviewed here,thus,provide the tools needed for the understanding and interpretation of experimental/numerical results.