Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Enrica Torretta, Micaela Garziano, Mariacristina Poliseno, Daniele Capitanio, Mara Biasin, Teresa Antonia Santantonio, Mario Clerici, Sergio Lo Caputo, Daria Trabattoni, Cecilia Gelfi
Summary: This study found that the imbalance of sphingolipid and glycosphingolipid metabolism in COVID-19 patients is related to disease severity, potentially leading to lipid raft remodeling, inducing cell apoptosis and immune escape.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Franziska Vollmy, Henk van den Toorn, Riccardo Zenezini Chiozzi, Ottavio Zucchetti, Alberto Papi, Carlo Alberto Volta, Luisa Marracino, Francesco Vieceli Dalla Sega, Francesca Fortini, Vadim Demichev, Pinkus Tober-Lau, Gianluca Campo, Marco Contoli, Markus Ralser, Florian Kurth, Savino Spadaro, Paola Rizzo, Albert J. R. Heck
Summary: The study recorded serum proteome profiles of 33 severe COVID-19 patients and identified a panel of about a dozen proteins that showed significantly different abundance between survivors and non-survivors. Nine proteins were defined for mortality risk assessment, and the predictive power of this panel was found to perform well in predicting mortality in independent cohorts measured in other countries. Some proteins in the panel have been previously annotated as mortality markers in aging and other diseases caused by different pathogens.
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Helena Castane, Simona Iftimie, Gerard Baiges-Gaya, Elisabet Rodriguez-Tomas, Andrea Jimenez-Franco, Ana Felisa Lopez-Azcona, Pedro Garrido, Antoni Castro, Jordi Camps, Jorge Joven
Summary: The study found that COVID-19 infection shares many lipid alterations with other infectious/inflammatory diseases, but there are also some differences. The most notable alterations were observed in oxylipins in COVID-19 patients, while bile acids and glycerophospholipids best distinguished between COVID-19-positive and COVID-19-negative patients.
METABOLISM-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Leszek Drabik, Justyna Derbisz, Zaneta Chatys-Bogacka, Iwona Mazurkiewicz, Katarzyna Sawczynska, Tomasz Kesek, Jacek Czepiel, Pawel Wrona, Joanna Szaleniec, Malgorzata Wojcik-Bugajska, Aleksander Garlicki, Maciej Malecki, Ralph Jozefowicz, Agnieszka Slowik, Marcin Wnuk
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the association between neurological symptoms or signs (NSS) and in-hospital mortality or oxygen requirement in COVID-19 patients. The presence of high-risk NSS increased the risk of in-hospital mortality, while the presence of low-risk NSS decreased the risk. Additionally, high-risk NSS also increased the risk of oxygen requirement during hospitalization.
Article
Immunology
Kiarash Saleki, Moein Shirzad, Mostafa Javanian, Sheyda Mohammadkhani, Mohammad Hossein Alijani, Niloufarsadat Miri, Morteza Oladnabi, Abbas Azadmehr
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the role of Fas/FasL in lung involvement and mortality of COVID-19 patients. The results showed increased mFasL expression in moderate and severe COVID-19 patients, and mFas expression was inversely correlated with myalgia symptoms. Moreover, elevated sFasL protein in serum was associated with reduced lung injury and mortality, and blood profile alterations in COVID-19 patients could affect Fas/FasL complex interactions. The findings suggest that sFasL may serve as a prognostic marker for the clinical management of COVID-19 patients.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sevgi Ozcan, Esra Donmez, Sevil Tugrul Yavuz, Murat Ziyrek, Orhan Ince, H. Suat Kucuk, Zeynep Atam Tasdemir, Ishak Yilmaz, Sinan Varol, Irfan Sahin, Ertugrul Okuyan
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the role of serum galectin-3 levels in disease progression of COVID-19. The results showed that galectin-3 was associated with ICU transfer, need for advanced ventilatory support, and in-hospital mortality.
Article
Immunology
Peng Zhong, Zhenzhou Wang, Zhe Du
Summary: The study found that higher triglyceride (TG) levels in COVID-19 patients were associated with poor prognosis, with higher mortality rates in the high TG group. Elevated TG levels were accompanied by significantly higher levels of serum ferritin, CRP, LDH, and IL-10 in the high TG group. TG levels were positively correlated with blood glucose, leukocyte, serum ferritin, LDH, CRP, and IL-10 levels.
IMMUNITY INFLAMMATION AND DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Juan Li, Lili Wang, Chun Liu, Zhengquan Wang, Yi Lin, Xiaoqi Dong, Rui Fan
Summary: Findings from this study indicate that advanced age, high peripheral white blood cell count, low lymphocyte count, low platelet count, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein are associated with mortality risk in critical COVID-19 patients. The nomogram model provides a useful tool for predicting mortality risk in these patients and guiding timely interventions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anastasia Shchepalina, Natalia Chebotareva, Larissa Akulkina, Mikhail Brovko, Viktoria Sholomova, Tatiana Androsova, Yulia Korotchaeva, Diana Kalmykova, Elena Tanaschuk, Marina Taranova, Marina Lebedeva, Vladimir Beketov, Sergey Moiseev
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic role of several biomarkers in COVID-19 patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). The results showed that the incidence of AKI in COVID-19 patients was 38%, and the main risk factors for kidney injury were male sex, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic kidney disease. High serum levels of angiopoetin-1 and a decrease in blood lymphocyte count and fibrinogen level were also associated with increased risk of AKI. We proposed a prognostic model including serum levels of angiopoetin-1 and KIM-1 on admission, which can help prevent the development of AKI in patients with COVID-19.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Manuel Mendez Bailon, Noel Lorenzo Villalba, Jorge Garcia Onrubia, Manuel Rubio Rivas, Maria Victoria Nunez Rodriguez, Maria de los Reyes Pascual Perez, Carmen Diaz Pedroche, Eva Maria Fonseca Aizpuru, Maria Victoria Villalba Garcia, Gema Maria Garcia Garcia, Paula Maria Pesqueira Fontan, Arturo Artero, Esther Montero Hernandez, Jose Nicolas Alcala Pedrajas, Vicente Giner Galvan, Daniel Monge Monge, Laura Letona Gimenez, Miriam Garcia Gomez, Carmen Martinez Cilleros, Nuria Puente Ruiz, Joaquin Escobar Sevilla, Raquel Gomez Mendez, Jose Manuel Ramos-Rincon, Ricardo Gomez Huelgas
Summary: Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a close relationship between this disease and cardiovascular diseases. This study found that age, atrial fibrillation, obesity, and peripheral vascular disease are risk factors for the development of heart failure in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Patients who developed heart failure also had a higher mortality rate and were more likely to require intubation or ICU admission.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Virology
Fares Qeadan, Benjamin Tingey, Lily Y. Gu, Ashley Hafen Packard, Esther Erdei, Ali I. Saeed
Summary: This study aimed to determine the optimal serum cutoff values for ferritin and D-dimer in COVID-19 patients, with findings showing that females generally have lower optimal cutoff values compared to males. The research provides insight for healthcare professionals to predict clinical outcomes and allocate resources appropriately during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Review
Cell Biology
Anem Iftikhar, Mohammad Islam, Simon Shepherd, Sarah Jones, Ian Ellis
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered the lifestyle of the general population and cancer patients, exacerbating the negative impact on the mental health of patients with head and neck cancer. The causative agent of COVID-19, SARS-CoV2, gains entry through the ACE2 receptor of the RAS, which can influence cancer and stress levels.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Te-An Lee, Shih-Han Wang, Chun-Tse Kuo, Chia-Wei Li, Louise D. McCullough, Dhimiter Bello, Yun-Ju Lai
Summary: This systematic review examines the biomarker changes in cancer patients with COVID-19 and their prognostic utility. The study identifies several biomarkers, including CRP, ferritin, and LDH, that are associated with the severity and outcomes of COVID-19 in cancer patients. Additionally, albumin and hemoglobin levels were found to be down-regulated. These biomarkers can be used to predict treatment outcomes and monitor disease progression in cancer patients with COVID-19.
TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Virology
Bin Zhou, Shinsuke Kojima, Atsuhiko Kawamoto, Masanori Fukushima
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing and researchers are making progress, but there is still no specific treatment. Establishing international or national cohorts is crucial for understanding risk factors, disease progression, and optimal treatment strategies.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL VIROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ugur Onal, Ozge Aydin Guclu, Halis Akalin, Nilufer Aylin Acet Ozturk, Cihan Semet, Ezgi Demirdogen, Asli Gorek Dilektasli, Imran Saglik, Esra Kazak, Guven Ozkaya, Funda Coskun, Dane Ediger, Yasemin Heper, Ahmet Ursavas, Emel Yilmaz, Esra Uzaslan, Mehmet Karadag
Summary: The study revealed that higher SOFA and CURB-65 scores upon admission were associated with increased mortality in COVID-19 patients. Additionally, D-dimer, ferritin, leukocyte, and neutrophil counts significantly increased after admission in deceased patients.
JOURNAL OF INFECTION IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
(2022)
Editorial Material
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Michele Samaja, Pasquale Pagliaro
TRENDS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Allergy
Andrea Baccelli, Marcelina Kocwin, Elena M. Parazzini, Rocco F. Rinaldo, Stefano Centanni
Summary: Dual biologic therapy may be beneficial for severe asthma, but further studies are needed to replicate the positive outcomes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nadia Papini, Roberta Todisco, Paola Giussani, Michele Dei Cas, Rita Paroni, Chiara Giallanza, Cristina Tringali
Summary: Autophagic impairment is observed in lysosomal storage diseases and adult neurodegenerative diseases, and it may contribute to worsen metabolite accumulation and lysosomal distress. In Krabbe disease, autophagy alterations were also identified. In this study, the inhibitory AKT-mediated phosphorylation of beclin-1 and the BCL2-beclin-1 complex were found to reduce autophagosomes formation in response to starvation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michele Samaja, Sara Ottolenghi
Summary: Hypoxia is a life-threatening condition for 1% of the world population and contributes to high morbidity and mortality in patients with various diseases. This review analyzes the mechanisms of adaptation and maladaptation to hypoxia, distinguishing between physiological (altitude-related) and pathological (pre-existing disease-related) hypoxia. The conclusion is that it is not hypoxia itself, but the excessive attempts to adapt to hypoxia that lead to diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Antonello E. Rigamonti, Michele Dei Cas, Diana Caroli, Alessandra De Col, Silvano G. Cella, Rita Paroni, Alessandro Sartorio
Summary: Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed using clinical criteria such as abdominal fat accumulation, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, and abnormal blood lipids. Sphingolipids in plasma can be used as a biochemical support for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. The study found that certain sphingolipids were significantly higher in individuals with metabolic syndrome. Regression analysis showed significant associations between these sphingolipids and waist circumference, blood pressure, insulin resistance, HDL, and TG.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Camillo Morano, Michele Dei Cas, Roberta F. Bergamaschi, Erika Palmisano, Marco Pallavicini, Cristiano Bolchi, Gabriella Roda, Sara Casati
Summary: The management of food and food-related wastes is a critical global issue due to their difficulty in recycling and disposal. Waste can be utilized as a significant source of biomass, with particular attention on fat-enriched biomasses for biofuel production. In this study, the focus was on evaluating a protocol for fractioning fatty acids from lanolin, a natural by-product of sheep shearing, and developing a fast quantitative GC-MS method for derivatizing free fatty acids in fat mixtures using MethElute (TM). Additionally, the separation of aliphatic and hydroxylated fatty acids in lanolin was assessed using NMR spectroscopy. The qualitative and quantitative analyses showed successful separation of different acid components, revealing that alpha-hydroxylated fatty acids primarily consist of linear saturated carbon chains, while other fatty acids exhibit a more complex profile.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Alessandra Barassi, Raffaele Pezzilli, Michele Mondoni, Rocco F. Rinaldo, Matteo Davi, Mario Cozzolino, Gianvico Melzi D'eril, Stefano Centanni
Summary: This study found that there is a deficiency of vitamin D in COVID-19 patients, and this condition is more common in patients receiving CPAP and NIMV support.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Barbara Oliviero, Michele Dei Cas, Aida Zulueta, Roberta Maiello, Alessandro Villa, Carla Martinelli, Elena Del Favero, Monica Falleni, Linda Montavoci, Stefania Varchetta, Dalila Mele, Matteo Donadon, Cristiana Soldani, Barbara Franceschini, Marcello Maestri, Gaetano Piccolo, Matteo Barabino, Paolo Pietro Bianchi, Jesus M. Banales, Stefania Mantovani, Mario U. Mondelli, Anna Caretti
Summary: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), a rare cancer with increasing incidence, can be influenced by extracellular vesicles (EV) through cargo molecule transfer. The sphingolipid (SPL) profile of intrahepatic CCA (iCCA)-derived EVs were studied using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. iCCA-derived EVs showed downregulation of all SPL species, except poorly-differentiated ones which had higher ceramide and dihydroceramide content. These EVs induced the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and inhibiting ceramide synthesis reduced their pro-inflammatory activity. Therefore, iCCA-derived EVs may promote iCCA progression by exporting excessive pro-apoptotic and pro-inflammatory ceramides.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Letter
Respiratory System
Rocco Francesco Rinaldo, Michele Mondoni, Andrea Baccelli, Francesca Marchetti, Beatrice Re, Mauro Degrassi, Elena Maria Parazzini, Marco Guazzi, Fabiano Di Marco, Stefano Centanni
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rosaria Bassi, Michele Dei Cas, Cristina Tringali, Federica Compostella, Rita Paroni, Paola Giussani
Summary: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and lethal brain tumor. Sphingolipids play important roles in the regulation of GBM cell growth and chemotherapy response. This study demonstrates that overexpression of EGFRvIII in U87MG glioma cells confers resistance to the alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ), potentially through altered ceramide (Cer) metabolism.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Antonello E. Rigamonti, Michele Dei Cas, Diana Caroli, Adele Bondesan, Silvano G. Cella, Rita Paroni, Alessandro Sartorio
Summary: Ceramide risk score (CERT1) has been reported as a potential marker for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk prediction. This study aimed to evaluate CERT1 in obese subjects with and without metabolic syndrome (MetS) and compared them to a normal-weight group. Obesity was associated with higher CERT1 values, and the predictors of CERT1 included waist circumference, insulin resistance, and inflammation. However, the clinical diagnosis of MetS may not accurately assess CVD risk in the obese population.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Organic
Alessandro Giraudo, Edoardo Armano, Camillo Morano, Marco Pallavicini, Cristiano Bolchi
Summary: The efficient conversion of cyclic ketones to lactones in neutral buffered water has been extended to heterocyclic ketones, resulting in the formation of N-protected azalactones and their analogues with oxygen substituting nitrogen.
JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)