Article
Environmental Sciences
Terje Svingen, Camilla Lindgren Schwartz, Anna Kjerstine Rosenmai, Louise Ramhoj, Hanna Katarina Lilith Johansson, Ulla Hass, Monica Kam Draskau, Nichlas Davidsen, Sofie Christiansen, Anne-Sofie Ravn Ballegaard, Marta Axelstad
Summary: Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are widespread in the environment and pose risks to humans and wildlife. Identifying them based on current guidelines and frameworks is challenging. Understanding the molecular pathways involved in normal development and function is crucial for determining disease causes, but predicting endocrine-related diseases in animals using non-animal test data is still difficult. It is important to focus on studying the mechanisms of EDC-induced adverse health effects to develop reliable non-animal testing strategies and reduce animal experiments in 21st-century chemical testing.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Review
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Kenji Toyota, Haruna Watanabe, Masashi Hirano, Ryoko Abe, Hitoshi Miyakawa, You Song, Tomomi Sato, Shinichi Miyagawa, Knut Erik Tollefsen, Hiroshi Yamamoto, Norihisa Tatarazako, Taisen Iguchi
Summary: This critical review provides a comprehensive understanding of the effects of juvenile hormones (JH) on freshwater cladoceran crustaceans, specifically Daphnia species, and the endocrine-disrupting effects triggered by JH analogs (JHAs). Adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) addressing the JHA-mediated effects on cladoceran leading to male offspring production and subsequent population decline are developed. The review and AOP development aim to serve as a reference for future ecotoxicological research and regulatory processes in developing tiered testing strategies and risk assessment approaches for JHAs.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jian Li, Ying Xu, Yuhao Jiang, Na Li, Zhanjie Li, Dongdong Kong, Xueru Guo, Junbo Zhang, Rui Zuo
Summary: Based on in vitro and in silico assays as well as proteome analysis, this study explored the nongenomic mechanism for BBP-induced thyroid disruption. The results showed that BBP could dock into the RGD domain of integrin α(v)β(3) and activate the MAPK pathway, promoting cell proliferation. Furthermore, BBP perturbed proteins and pathways related to cell communication and signal transduction.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Antonio F. Hernandez-Jerez, Paulien Adriaanse, Annette Aldrich, Philippe Berny, Tamara Coja, Sabine Duquesne, Andreas Focks, Maurice Millet, Olavi Pelkonen, Silvia Pieper, Aaldrik Tiktak, Christopher J. Topping, Anneli Widenfalk, Martin Wilks, Gerrit Wolterink, Karine Angeli, Camilla Recordati, Majorie Van Durseen, Elisa Aiassa, Anna Lanzoni, Alfonso Lostia, Laura Martino, Irene Pilar Munoz Guajardo, Martina Panzarea, Andrea Terron, Marina Marinovich
Summary: The development of adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) for uterine adenocarcinoma can help implement the EFSA-ECHA Guidance for identifying endocrine disruptors. AOPs indicate the relationship between adverse outcomes and chemicals affecting the pathways. The PPR Panel developed multiple AOPs converging to increased estradiol availability and estrogen receptor activation in the uterus and endometrium, forming a putative AOP network. Recommendations include exploring uncertainties, developing methodologies for quantifying certainty, and investigating NAMs applications.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Ankita Kaushik, S. M. Metkari, Subhan Ali, Deepa Bhartiya
Summary: The reproductive health of men is declining due to increased exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). A study was conducted to investigate the effects of neonatal exposure to EDCs on testicular health and explore potential strategies for reversing these effects. The study found that oral administration of a nano-formulation of resveratrol or inter-tubular transplantation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) effectively improved spermatogenesis, restored the epigenetic status of stem cells, and reduced the incidence of testicular tumors. These findings provide a basis for further clinical studies in this area.
STEM CELL REVIEWS AND REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Toxicology
Jon Hamm, Debabrata Mahapatra, Megan M. Knuth, Jaleh Abedini, Mary Lingerfelt, Sean Ekins, Seth W. Kullman
Summary: Toxicology in the 21st Century (Tox21) is a federal collaboration aiming to evaluate the toxicity of 10,000 environmental chemicals. This study focuses on the disruption of nuclear receptor (NR) signaling and the reevaluation of FXR agonists and antagonists identified through Tox21. The study demonstrates the complexity of FXR:ligand interactions and the ability of diverse ligands to modulate transcription mediated by FXR. A multiplicative approach to assessment of nuclear receptor function is suggested for a better understanding of its biological complexity and broad HTS outcomes.
CURRENT RESEARCH IN TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Giulio de Felice, Alessandro Giuliani, Silvia Andreassi, Franco Orsucci, Helmut Schoeller, Wolfgang Aichhorn, Leonhard Kratzer, Guenter Schiepek
Summary: The study found that poor-outcome patients have a separation between cognitive and emotional processes, while good-outcome patients integrate these aspects well. Therefore, therapeutic processes should pay more attention to patients' relational and emotional aspects.
JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY PSYCHOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Antonio Canosa, Alessio Martino, Umberto Manera, Rosario Vasta, Maurizio Grassano, Francesca Palumbo, Sara Cabras, Francesca Di Pede, Vincenzo Arena, Cristina Moglia, Alessandro Giuliani, Andrea Calvo, Adriano Chio, Marco Pagani
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of brain 2-[F-18]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose-positron-emission tomography (2-[F-18]FDG-PET) as a predictor of survival in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The results showed that brain 2-[F-18]FDG-PET, combined with artificial intelligence, could accurately predict the survival time range in ALS patients. This prognostic tool has potential applications in patient management and individual stratification in clinical trials.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE AND MOLECULAR IMAGING
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Antonio Canosa, Alessio Martino, Alessandro Giuliani, Cristina Moglia, Rosario Vasta, Maurizio Grassano, Francesca Palumbo, Sara Cabras, Francesca Di Pede, Filippo De Mattei, Enrico Matteoni, Giulia Polverari, Umberto Manera, Andrea Calvo, Marco Pagani, Adriano Chio
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the ability of brain 2-[F-18]FDG-PET to reveal the metabolic features characterizing patients with pure bulbar or spinal motor impairment. The results showed that ALS patients with bulbar onset exhibited relative hypometabolism in the bilateral precentral gyrus, and the SVM classifier performed the best.
JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Guido Gigante, Alessandro Giuliani
Summary: In this study, a statistical-mechanics approach was used to analyze the temporal fluctuations of all-cause mortality in different regions of Italy, with a focus on the correlation structure of this index. By reconstructing the correlation network among the regions, it was possible to monitor emerging systemic threats and their impact on health.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jekaterina Erenpreisa, Alessandro Giuliani, Kenichi Yoshikawa, Martin Falk, Georg Hildenbrand, Kristine Salmina, Talivaldis Freivalds, Ninel Vainshelbaum, Jonas Weidner, Aaron Sievers, Gotz Pilarczyk, Michael Hausmann
Summary: Complex functioning of the genome in the cell nucleus is controlled at different levels, including the DNA base sequence, epigenetic pathways, and genome architecture. This article reviews recent research on integrating these levels of genome expression regulation and discusses the conclusions from an international symposium held in Riga, Latvia, which addressed novel aspects of the topic.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Federico Bizzarri, Alessandro Giuliani, Chiara Mocenni
Summary: This work investigates how interpersonal interactions among individuals could affect the dynamics of awareness raising. It introduces a theoretical mathematical framework to evaluate the effect of interaction with neighbor agents on individual awareness. By embedding the single agent model into a graph and allowing different agents to interact, the study shows the emergence of diffusion mechanisms and the tendency towards attaining homogeneous attractors with the highest level of awareness in the population. The findings suggest that structural and behavioral patterns can drive real actors to take effective actions and increase individual and global awareness.
Review
Oncology
Federica Francescangeli, Maria Laura De Angelis, Rachele Rossi, Adriano Cuccu, Alessandro Giuliani, Ruggero De Maria, Ann Zeuner
Summary: The complexity of cancer poses a great challenge to current treatment protocols, leading to frequent treatment failures. Cancer cell dormancy is closely linked to the tumor's ability to survive cytotoxic challenges, metastasize, and resist immune-mediated attack. Recent studies have focused on understanding quiescent/therapy resistant cancer cells and identifying biomarkers/therapeutic targets, but there is still a lack of understanding and control over cancer dormancy in clinical settings.
CANCER AND METASTASIS REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Shareen H. Doak, Cristina Andreoli, Michael J. Burgum, Qasim Chaudhry, Eric A. J. Bleeker, Cecilia Bossa, Josefa Domenech, Damjana Drobne, Valerie Fessard, Nina Jeliazkova, Eleonora Longhin, Elise Runden-Pran, Maciej Stepnik, Naouale El Yamani, Julia Catalan, Maria Dusinska
Summary: Genotoxicity testing for nanomaterials is challenging and requires adaptation of standard testing approaches. New approach methodologies (NAMs) are being developed to provide relevant information on genotoxic action. The implementation and utilization of NAMs for nanomaterial genotoxicity assessment in a regulatory context need clarification and increased engagement between scientists and regulators.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pietro Hiram Guzzi, Luisa di Paola, Barbara Puccio, Ugo Lomoio, Alessandro Giuliani, Pierangelo Veltri
Summary: The structure of proteins determines their function, and mutations can lead to structural changes and functional modifications. In this study, we investigate the relationship between sequence mutations and structure variations of the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein to understand the structural consequences of mutated amino acid residues in different strains of the virus. We propose the use of protein contact network (PCN) formalism to compare sequence and structure, and we found that the Omicron variant has a unique mutational pattern resulting in distinct structural implications compared to other strains.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Mathematical & Computational Biology
Olga Sirbu, Mohamed Helmy, Alessandro Giuliani, Kumar Selvarajoo
Summary: Cancer is considered a genetic disease, and recent studies have shown that every human gene may be associated with cancer. The distinction between oncogenes that drive cancer and those that are associated but do not play a role is important. Through analysis of single-cell and bulk datasets of cancer transcriptomes and proteomes, it was found that oncogenes have higher connectivity in protein-protein interaction networks compared to random genes. Additionally, at the single-cell level, there is variant behavior in a subset of oncogenes for each cancer type. Further study using protein causality and higher-resolution single-cell analysis is needed to understand the role of oncogenes.
NPJ SYSTEMS BIOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Despoina P. P. Kiouri, Charalampos Ntallis, Konstantinos Kelaidonis, Massimiliano Peana, Sotirios Tsiodras, Thomas Mavromoustakos, Alessandro Giuliani, Harry Ridgway, Graham J. J. Moore, John M. M. Matsoukas, Christos T. T. Chasapis
Summary: The potential of targeting the RAAS as a treatment for COVID-19 is being investigated. This study analyzed the potential side effects and off-target effects of antihypertensive drugs, ARBs, and Pfizer's antiviral drug, Paxlovid, for COVID-19 treatment. The findings compared the effects and possible risks of both drug categories.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Elisabetta Golini, Sara Marinelli, Simona Pisu, Federica De Angelis, Valentina Vacca, Alessandro Rava, Irene Casola, Gaia Laurenzi, Emanuele Rizzuto, Alessandro Giuliani, Antonio Musaro, Gabriella Dobrowolny, Silvia Mandillo
Summary: The study found that excessive physical activity can be detrimental to predisposed individuals and increase the risk of developing ALS.
CURRENT NEUROVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Masa Tsuchiya, Paul Brazhnik, Mariano Bizzarri, Alessandro Giuliani
Summary: In this article, we provide an overview of complex systems theory approaches to study the genomic mechanism of cell-fate changes. The coordinated gene expression changes across the genome play a crucial role in controlling cell trajectories across the epigenetic landscape. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these expression changes is fundamental to cell biology and has implications for therapeutic approaches.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jekaterina Erenpreisa, Alessandro Giuliani, Mark Steven Cragg
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kumar Selvarajoo, Alessandro Giuliani
