Biology subjects

Salerno, M.

Publications and source records attributed to Salerno, M..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2023

Incorporating strontium enriched amorphous calcium phosphate granules in collagen/collagen-magnesium-hydroxyapatite osteochondral scaffold improves subchondral bone repair

To date, osteochondral defect repair with a collagen/collagen-magnesium-hydroxyapatite (Col/Col-Mg-HAp) scaffold has demonstrated good clinical results. However, subchondral bone repair has been suboptimal, potentially leading to damage to the regenerated overlying neocartilage. This study aimed at improving the bone repair potential of this scaffold by incorporating strontium (Sr) ion enriched amorphous calcium phosphate (Sr-ACP) granules (100-150 {micro}m). Sr concentration of Sr-ACP was determined with ICP-MS at 2.49 {+/-} 0.04 wt.%. Then 30 wt.% ACP or Sr-ACP granules were integrated into the scaffold prototypes. The ACP or Sr-ACP granules were well distributed and embedded in the collagenic matrix demonstrated by micro-CT and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry. Good cytocompatibility of ACP/Sr-ACP granules and ACP/Sr-ACP enriched scaffolds was confirmed in in vitro cytotoxicity assays. An overall promising early tissue response and good biocompatibility of both ACP and Sr-ACP enriched scaffolds were demonstrated in a subcutaneous mouse model. In a goat osteochondral defect model, significantly more bone observed at 6 months with the treatment of Sr-ACP enriched scaffolds compared to scaffold only in particular in the weight-bearing femoral condyle subchondral bone defect. Overall, the incorporation of osteogenic Sr-ACP granules in Col/Col-Mg-HAp scaffolds showed to be a feasible and promising strategy to improve subchondral bone repair.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2023

First virological and pathological study of Göttingen Minipigs with Dippity Pig Syndrome (DPS)

Dippity Pig Syndrome (DPS) is a well-known but rare complex of clinical signs affecting minipigs, which has not been thoroughly investigated yet. Clinically affected animals show acute appearance of red, exudating lesions across the spine. The lesions are painful, evidenced by arching of the back (dipping), and the onset of clinical symptoms is generally sudden. In order to understand the pathogenesis, histological and virological investigations were performed in affected and unaffected Gottingen Minipigs (GoMPs). The following DNA viruses were screened for using PCR-based methods: Porcine cytomegalovirus (PCMV), which is a porcine roseolovirus (PCMV/PRV), porcine lymphotropic herpesviruses (PLHV-1, PLHV-2, PLHV-3), porcine circoviruses (PCV1, PCV2, PCV3, PCV4), porcine parvovirus 1 (PPV1), and Torque Teno sus virus (TTSuV1, TTSuV2). Screening was also performed for integrated porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERV-A, PERV-B, PERV-C) and recombinant PERV-A/C and their expression as well as for the RNA viruses hepatitis E virus (HEV) and SARS-CoV-2. Eight clinically affected and one unaffected GoMPs were analyzed. Additional unaffected minipigs had been analyzed in the past. The analyzed GoMPs contained PERV-A and PERV-B integrated in the genome, which are present in all pigs and PERV-C, which is present in most, but not all pigs. In one affected GoMPs recombinant PERV-A/C was detected in blood. In this animal a very high expression of PERV mRNA was observed. PCMV/PRV was found in three affected animals, PCV1 was found in three animals with DPS and in the healthy minipig, and PCV3 was detected in two animals with DPS and in the unaffected minipig. Most importantly, in one animal only PLHV-3 was detected. It was found in the affected and unaffected skin, and in other organs. Unfortunately, PLHV-3 could not be studied in all other affected minipigs. None of the other viruses were detected and using electron microscopy, no virus particles were found in the affected skin. This data identified some virus infections in GoMPs with DPS and assign a special role to PLHV-3. Since PCMV/PRV, PCV1, PCV3 and PLHV-3 were also found in unaffected animals, a multifactorial cause of DPS is suggested. However, elimination of the viruses from GoMPs may prevent DPS.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2019

Peculiar cases of a \"sleeping\" brain in alert cancer patients

Cognitive and constitutional symptomatology is common in cancer patients but the causes are not well understood. To investigate whether cancers cause these symptoms by changing cerebral metabolism, we measured the cerebral rate of glucose consumption (CMRglc) in patients diagnosed with a lung lesion.\n\nMethodsThe CMRglc was quantified in 20 patients undergoing 18F-FDG PET for lesion staging. The cognitive status was assessed by neuropsychological testing.\n\nResultsParadoxically, despite being alert three of the patients had CMRglc typical of people who are in deep sleep or anesthetized. All three had cancers, two died within 2 months of scanning. Remaining patients including four with early stage cancer had CMRglc within normal range.\n\nConclusionsWe speculate that the low CMRglc reflects a switch to an alternative energy source that is mediated by cancers remotely. Identifying the underlying mechanism and the alternative energy sources may help to understand how cancers can change body metabolism.

cancer biology↗