Experimental evidence indicates that chronic mechanical sub-occlusion of the intestine may damage the enteric nervous system （ENS）, although data in humans are lacking. We here describe the first case of enteric deg...Experimental evidence indicates that chronic mechanical sub-occlusion of the intestine may damage the enteric nervous system （ENS）, although data in humans are lacking. We here describe the first case of enteric degenerative neuropathy related to a congenital obstruction of the gut. A 3-year and 9-mo old girl began to complain of vomiting, abdominal distension, constipation with air-fluid levels at plane abdominal radiology. Her subsequent medical history was characterized by 3 operations： the first showed dilated duodeno-jejunal loops in the absence of occlusive lesions; the second （2 years later） was performed to obtain full-thickness biopsies of the dilated intestinal loops and revealed hyperganglionosis at histopathology; the third （9 years after the hyperganglionosis was identified） disclosed a Ladd＇s band which was removed and the associated gut malrotation was corrected. Repeated intraoperative full-thickness biopsies showed enteric degenerative neuropathy along with reduced interstitial cells of Cajal network in dilated loops above the obstruction and a normal neuromuscular layer below the Ladd＇s band. One year after the latest surgery the patient tolerated oral feeding and did well, suggesting that congenital （partial） mechanical obstruction of the small bowel in humans can evoke progressive adaptive changes of the ENS which are similar to those found in animal models of intestinal mechanical occlusion. Such ENS changes mimic neuronal abnormalities observed in intestinal pseudoobstruction.展开更多
The most recent discoveries in the biochemical field are highlighting the increasingly important role of lipid droplets(LDs)in several regulatory mechanisms in living cells.LDs are dynamic organelles and therefore the...The most recent discoveries in the biochemical field are highlighting the increasingly important role of lipid droplets(LDs)in several regulatory mechanisms in living cells.LDs are dynamic organelles and therefore their complete characterization in terms of number,size,spatial positioning and relative distribution in the cell volume can shed light on the roles played by LDs.Until now,fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy are assessed as the gold standard methods for identifying LDs due to their high sensitivity and specificity.However,such methods generally only provide 2D assays and partial measurements.Furthermore,both can be destructive and with low productivity,thus limiting analysis of large cell numbers in a sample.Here we demonstrate for the first time the capability of 3D visualization and the full LD characterization in high-throughput with a tomographic phase-contrast flow-cytometer,by using ovarian cancer cells and monocyte cell lines as models.A strategy for retrieving significant parameters on spatial correlations and LD 3D positioning inside each cell volume is reported.The information gathered by this new method could allow more in depth understanding and lead to new discoveries on how LDs are correlated to cellular functions.展开更多
Salami is a cured sausage consisting of fermented and air-dried meat obtained from a mixture of meat and fat with spices and other ingredients.Excessive processed meat consumption is negatively considered because of i...Salami is a cured sausage consisting of fermented and air-dried meat obtained from a mixture of meat and fat with spices and other ingredients.Excessive processed meat consumption is negatively considered because of its high fat and salt contents and few bioactive molecules.Notwithstanding,salami is largely consumed,and there is a strong interest to produce better and healthier products by substituting nitrites and nitrates with natural extracts.This work produced four different salami,two controls including nitrates and two alternative preparations where nitrates were substituted with plant extract and ascorbic acid.The products were in vitro digested with the INFOGEST protocol to simulate the oro-gastro-duodenal phase and in vitro fermented with MICODE model to simulate the colon phase.Samples were analyzed by microbiomics and metabolomics approaches to study the changes in bacterial populations and in metabolites production.The results showed that the clean-label formulations promote a general eubiosis of the intestinal microbiota,including favorable F/B ratio,the proliferation of beneficial microbial taxa(Bifidobacteriaceae),and reduction of negative microbial populations(Enterobacteriaceae).Volatilome analysis highlighted a marked production of beneficial molecules,including acetate,propionate and butyrate,and a reduction in host negative molecules such as phenol and p-cresol.Our results tell that the plant extracts could be used to replace nitrates,because the features obtained are comparable to those of controls.This work could represent an encouraging starting point for the processed meat industry for the development of clean-label formulations aimed at reducing the negative impact of these products on consumers.展开更多
基金Supported by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (CCOFIN Project No. 2004062155 to RDeG,2004055120 to GB and 2003064378 to RDeG, GB and VS)
文摘Experimental evidence indicates that chronic mechanical sub-occlusion of the intestine may damage the enteric nervous system （ENS）, although data in humans are lacking. We here describe the first case of enteric degenerative neuropathy related to a congenital obstruction of the gut. A 3-year and 9-mo old girl began to complain of vomiting, abdominal distension, constipation with air-fluid levels at plane abdominal radiology. Her subsequent medical history was characterized by 3 operations： the first showed dilated duodeno-jejunal loops in the absence of occlusive lesions; the second （2 years later） was performed to obtain full-thickness biopsies of the dilated intestinal loops and revealed hyperganglionosis at histopathology; the third （9 years after the hyperganglionosis was identified） disclosed a Ladd＇s band which was removed and the associated gut malrotation was corrected. Repeated intraoperative full-thickness biopsies showed enteric degenerative neuropathy along with reduced interstitial cells of Cajal network in dilated loops above the obstruction and a normal neuromuscular layer below the Ladd＇s band. One year after the latest surgery the patient tolerated oral feeding and did well, suggesting that congenital （partial） mechanical obstruction of the small bowel in humans can evoke progressive adaptive changes of the ENS which are similar to those found in animal models of intestinal mechanical occlusion. Such ENS changes mimic neuronal abnormalities observed in intestinal pseudoobstruction.
基金funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research(PRIN 2017-Prot.2017N7R2CJ)Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna(Italy)for the financial support to I.K.finalized to the acquisition of EVOS M5000。
文摘The most recent discoveries in the biochemical field are highlighting the increasingly important role of lipid droplets(LDs)in several regulatory mechanisms in living cells.LDs are dynamic organelles and therefore their complete characterization in terms of number,size,spatial positioning and relative distribution in the cell volume can shed light on the roles played by LDs.Until now,fluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy are assessed as the gold standard methods for identifying LDs due to their high sensitivity and specificity.However,such methods generally only provide 2D assays and partial measurements.Furthermore,both can be destructive and with low productivity,thus limiting analysis of large cell numbers in a sample.Here we demonstrate for the first time the capability of 3D visualization and the full LD characterization in high-throughput with a tomographic phase-contrast flow-cytometer,by using ovarian cancer cells and monocyte cell lines as models.A strategy for retrieving significant parameters on spatial correlations and LD 3D positioning inside each cell volume is reported.The information gathered by this new method could allow more in depth understanding and lead to new discoveries on how LDs are correlated to cellular functions.
基金funded by Italian POR-FESR 2014-2020(Innovative Milk and Meat products for Consumer’s Health-MiMe4Health)Call for strategic industrial research projects aimed at the priority areas of the Intelligent Specialization Strategy(DGR n.986/2018)Project nr.PG/2018/632,065.
文摘Salami is a cured sausage consisting of fermented and air-dried meat obtained from a mixture of meat and fat with spices and other ingredients.Excessive processed meat consumption is negatively considered because of its high fat and salt contents and few bioactive molecules.Notwithstanding,salami is largely consumed,and there is a strong interest to produce better and healthier products by substituting nitrites and nitrates with natural extracts.This work produced four different salami,two controls including nitrates and two alternative preparations where nitrates were substituted with plant extract and ascorbic acid.The products were in vitro digested with the INFOGEST protocol to simulate the oro-gastro-duodenal phase and in vitro fermented with MICODE model to simulate the colon phase.Samples were analyzed by microbiomics and metabolomics approaches to study the changes in bacterial populations and in metabolites production.The results showed that the clean-label formulations promote a general eubiosis of the intestinal microbiota,including favorable F/B ratio,the proliferation of beneficial microbial taxa(Bifidobacteriaceae),and reduction of negative microbial populations(Enterobacteriaceae).Volatilome analysis highlighted a marked production of beneficial molecules,including acetate,propionate and butyrate,and a reduction in host negative molecules such as phenol and p-cresol.Our results tell that the plant extracts could be used to replace nitrates,because the features obtained are comparable to those of controls.This work could represent an encouraging starting point for the processed meat industry for the development of clean-label formulations aimed at reducing the negative impact of these products on consumers.
