Adipose Stromal/Stem Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles: Potential Next-Generation Anti-Obesity Agents

Over the last decade, several compounds have been identified for the treatment of obesity. However, due to the complexity of the disease, many pharmacological interventions have raised concerns about their efficacy and safety. Therefore, it is important to discover new factors involved in the induction/progression of obesity. Adipose stromal/stem cells (ASCs), which are mostly isolated from subcutaneous adipose tissue, are the primary cells contributing to the expansion of fat mass. Like other cells, ASCs release nanoparticles known as extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are being actively studied for their potential applications in a variety of diseases. Here, we focused on the importance of the contribution of ASC-derived EVs in the regulation of metabolic processes. In addition, we outlined the advantages/disadvantages of the use of EVs as potential next-generation anti-obesity agents.     

Persistent organic pollutants in farmed European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax,Linnaeus, 1758) from Sicily (Italy)

Farmed European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax, Linnaeus, 1758) were collected during 2016 from one Sicilian fish farm that uses two different rearing systems – sea cage and concrete tank – for determination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), organochlorine pesticides (OCP) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) residues by HRGC-MS/MS. Moreover, commercial feed was analysed. This study aimed to determine whether the different rearing systems affect the concentration of these compounds, and to assess the safety of cultured fish. PCBs represent the pollutants with the highest concentration; in particular, PCB138 and 153 have the highest concentration in almost all samples. Among OCPs, only 4,4′-DDE, 4,4′-DDD and 4,4′-DDT residues have been detected. Concerning PAHs, only fluorene and phenanthrene were detected, in both rearing systems. Although some residues of organic pollutants were found in the analysed samples, they were always below the MRLs, so the results suggest that farmed sea bass are safe for human consumption.     

Histochemical characterization of the sialic acid residues in mouse colon mucins

The mucins of colonic murine mucus are highly O‐glycosilated sulfosialoglycoproteins. We have characterized the sialylation pattern of oligosaccharide chains of colonic murine mucins by conventional histochemical methods and by lectin histochemistry combined with chemical pretreatments and sialidase digestion. Oligosaccharide chains are strongly sulphated, with an increase of sulfation from the proximal toward the distal colon and a decrease of sialic acid expression and acetylation toward the distal colon. In the goblet cells of proximal colon, sialic acid bound α2,3 to Galβ1,3GalNAc subterminal dimers is diacetylated at C7,C8;C7,C9;C8,C9 or triacetylated at C7,8,9. In the distal colon, sialic acid‐linked α2,3 to Galβ1,3GalNAc subterminal dimers shows reduced O‐acetylation at C7 and/or C8, while acetyl substituents at C9 and at C4 are almost absent. Sialic acid is involved in different essential physiological functions; thus, alterations of its expression and acetylation in oligosaccharide chains of intestinal mucins are generally associated with diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and cancer. Mice may represent a suitable animal model to study alterations of oligosaccharidic chains in colonic mucins and lectin histochemistry combined with chemical pretreatments, and enzyme digestion may be a valuable tool for this study. Our present work may represent a landmark for further lectin histochemical studies to evaluate alterations of mouse colon mucins under different physiological, pathological, or experimental conditions, with possible translational value in humans. Microsc. Res. Tech., 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Separation of racemic mixtures of sn-1(3)-monoacylglycerols by enantioselective-HPLC/ELSD

Enantiomeric separations were performed on five modified polysaccharide-based chiral stationary phases (CSPs) containing cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) (Lux Cellulose-1), cellulose tris(3-chloro-4-methylphenylcarbamate) (Lux Cellulose-2), cellulose tris(4-methylbenzoate) (Lux Cellulose-3), cellulose tris(4-chloro-3-methylphenylcarbamate) (Lux Cellulose-4), amylose tris(5-chloro-2-methylphenylcarbamate) (Lux Amylose-2) by high-performance liquid chromatography and evaporative light scattering detector. A method for direct separation of pairs of sn-1(3)-monoacylglycerols (MAGs) was established using n-hexane/2-propanol as the mobile phase. The washing of CSPs with mobile phases based on n-hexane/2-propanol, containing small amount of acids, improved considerably the efficiency of separations. Racemic mixtures of sn-1(3)-MAGs with different acyl chains could not be directly separated using only one of the columns tested; employing a tandem column system that consisted of a very short silver-loaded column connected downstream with Lux Cellulose-1 the method allowed, for the first time, the separation of four enantiomeric pairs of standard in a single chromatographic run.     

Creating round focused micro-jets from rectangular nozzles

Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology - A focused jet is an axisymmetric jet of liquid surrounded by an outer coaxial gas jet. The gas jet is typically used to compress the liquid jet in the...     

Classification of Marsala wines according to their polyphenol, carbohydrate and heavy metal levels using canonical discriminant analysis

Marsala is a popular Sicilian fortified aged wine with ancient tradition. Nowadays Marsala is exported all over the world and is considered one of the most important dessert wines. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of carbohydrates, polyphenols and heavy metals in different types of Marsala wines and to achieve statistical classifications by stepwise forward canonical discriminant analysis (CDA). The obtained results provided evidence that different types of Marsala were correctly classified according to their phenolic and carbohydrate compositions. In particular, the residual sugars allowed a good discrimination among Marsalas having similar total sugar contents. CDA, performed using heavy metals as independent variables, showed that Superiore Ambra Secco and Vergine Marsalas were not discriminated, whereas a good separation among Fine Oro Dolce, Superiore Riserva and Fine Ambra Secco wines was obtained. Finally, an overall statistical model showed that the variables with the highest discriminant power were: tyrosol, caffeic acid, procyanidin B1, catechin, quercetin, kaempferol, lactose, rhamnose, zinc, copper and lead.     

Targeting PIK3CA Actionable Mutations in the Circulome: A Proof of Concept in Metastatic Breast Cancer

The study of circulating cancer-derived components (circulome) is considered the new frontier of liquid biopsy. Despite the recognized role of circulome biomarkers, their comparative molecular profiling is not yet routine. In advanced breast cancer (BC), approximately 40% of hormone-receptor-positive, HER2-negative BC cases harbor druggable PIK3CA mutations suitable for combined alpelisib/fulvestrant treatment. This pilot study investigates PIK3CA mutations in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), tumor cells (CTCs), and extracellular vesicles (EVs) with the aim of determining which information on molecular targetable profiling could be recollected in each of them. The in-depth molecular analysis of four BC patients demonstrated, as a proof-of-concept study, that it is possible to retrieve mutational information in the three components. Patient-specific PIK3CA mutations were found in both tissue and ctDNA and in 3/4 cases, as well as in CTCs, in the classical population (large-sized CD45−/EpCAM+/− cells), and/or in the “non-conventional” sub-population (smaller-sized CD44+/EpCAM−/CD45− cells). Consistent mutational profiles of EVs with CTCs suggest that they may have been released by CTCs. This preliminary evidence on the molecular content of the different circulating biomaterials suggests their possible function as a mirror of the intrinsic heterogeneity of BC. Moreover, this study demonstrates, through mutational assessment, the tumor origin of the different CTC sub-populations sustaining the translational value of the circulome for a more comprehensive picture of the disease.