Pulse (design by Matteo Bazzicalupo and Raffaella Mangiarotti- deepdesign)

Raffaella Mangiarotti 한국디자인학회 2014 한국디자인학회 국제초대전도록 Vol.2014 No.11

Polynomial factorization through L_r(μ) spaces

Raffaella Cilia,Joaquin M. Gutierrez 대한수학회 2009 대한수학회지 Vol.46 No.6

We give conditions so that a polynomial be factorable through an L_r(μ) space. Among them, we prove that, given a Banach space X and an index m, every absolutely summing operator on X is 1-factorable if and only if every 1-dominated m-homogeneous polynomial on X is right 1-factorable, if and only if every 1-dominated m-homogeneous polynomial on X is left 1-factorable. As a consequence, if X has local unconditional structure, then every 1-dominated homogeneous polynomial on X is right and left 1-factorable.

Risk of Second Primary Malignancy in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Nested Population-Based Case-Control Study

Raffaella Marcheselli,Luigi Marcheselli,Laura Cortesi,Alessia Bari,Claudia Cirilli,Samantha Pozzi,Paola Ferri,Martina Napolitano,Massimo Federico,Stefano Sacchi 한국유방암학회 2015 Journal of breast cancer Vol.18 No.4

Purpose: Evolving therapies have improved the prognoses of patients with breast cancer; and currently, the number of longterm survivors is continuously increasing. However, these patients are at increased risk of developing a second cancer. Thus, late side effects are becoming an important issue. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether patient and tumor characteristics, and treatment type correlate with secondary tumor risk. Methods: This case-control study included 305 patients with a diagnosed second malignancy after almost 6 months after the diagnosis of primary breast cancer and 1,525 controls (ratio 1:5 of cases to controls) from a population-based cohort of 6,325 women. The control patients were randomly selected from the cohort and matched to the cases according to age at diagnosis, calendar period of diagnosis, disease stage, and time of followup. Results: BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)+ status, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy were related to increased risk of developing a second cancer, whereas hormonotherapy showed a protective effect. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and estrogenic receptor level <10% increased the risk of controlateral breast cancer. HER2+ status increased the risk of digestive system and thyroid tumors, while BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation increased the risk of cancer in the genital system. Conclusion: Breast cancer survivors are exposed to an excess of risk of developing a second primary cancer. The development of excess of malignancies may be related either to patient and tumor characteristics, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation and HER2+ status, or to treatments factors.

Nuclear Receptors in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

( Raffaella Maria Gadaleta ) 대한간학회 2017 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2017 No.1

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major health problem being fifth most common malignancy worldwide and resulting in over 1.4 million fatalities per year. The quest for novel putative therapeutical strategies is of great importance. Epidemiological studies and animal models have linked dysregulation of bile acid (BA) metabolism to an increased incidence of HCC. While it has long been recognized that BAs are required to facilitate lipid digestion and cholesterol absorption in the intestine, the discovery that they serve as ligands for the nuclear Farnesoid X receptor (FXR), opened a new chapter in the characterization of BAs as signalling molecules. FXR is the master regulator of BA homeostasis because it controls BA synthesis, influx, efflux, and detoxification in the gut/liver axis. Hepatocarcinogenesis has been associated with both FXR gene deletion and BA-mediated metabolic abnormalities after inactivation of FXR transcriptional activity. The landmark discovery of the role of a FXR target gene, the intestine- derived hormone fibroblast growth factor 15/19 (murine and human, respectively - FGF15/19), in the feedback regulation of hepatic bile acid synthesis shed light on the physiological relevance of the crosstalk of the gut-liver axis in the context of BA homeostasis. FGF15/19 is atypical fibroblast growth factor that functions as a hormone. Via the enterohepatic circulation it travels from the small intestine to the liver, where it acts on a cell surface receptor complex to repress BA synthesis and gluconeogenesis and activate glycogen and protein synthesis. The BA-FXR-FGF19 signalling pathway regulates several aspects of the postprandial enterohepatic response and in conditions of BA metabolic derangement it especially restore BA homeostasis through the FXR-FGF19 axis and prevent progression of liver damage to HCC even in the absence of hepatic FXR.

Antimicrobial Activity of Two Propolis Samples Against Human Campylobacter jejuni

Raffaella Campana,Vania Patrone,Ingrid Tarsilla Maria Franzini,Giuseppe Diamantini,Emanuela Vittoria,Wally Baffone 한국식품영양과학회 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.5

The aim of this study was to analyze the antimicrobial activity of two ethanolic extracts of propolis (EEPs) and selected flavonoids against 16 Campylobacter jejuni clinical isolates and several Gram-positive and Gram-negative human pathogens. The antimicrobial activity of EEPs and flavonoids was evaluated by the agar well diffusion method. The EEPs inhibited the growth of C. jejuni, Enterobacter faecalis, and Staphylococcus aureus. The most active flavonoid was galangin, with the highest percentage of sensitivity among C. jejuni strains (68.8%); lower percentages of sensitivity were observed for quercetin (50%). The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of EEPs and flavonoids for C. jejuni isolates were determined by the agar dilution method. EEPs showed MIC values of 0.3125–0.156mg/mL for all C. jejuni strains; galangin and quercetin gave MICs ranging from 0.250 to 0.125mg/mL. Thus propolis preparations could be used as support to traditional therapy for Campylobacter infection, especially when the antibiotic agents show no activity against this microorganism.

Reliability and Accuracy of Embedded Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors for Strain Monitoring in Advanced Composite Structures

Raffaella Di Sante,Lorenzo Donati,Enrico Troiani,Paolo Proli 대한금속·재료학회 2014 METALS AND MATERIALS International Vol.20 No.3

This work investigated issues for an efficient and reliable embedding and use of Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG)sensors for strain monitoring of composite structures with particular regard to the manufacturing processof components in the nautical field by means of the vacuum bag technique in autoclave. CFRP materiallaminates with embedded FBGs were produced and the effect of the curing process parameters on the lighttransmission characteristics of the optical fibers was initially investigated. Two different types of coating,namely polyimide and acrylate, were tested by measuring the light attenuation by an Optical Time DomainReflectometer. Tensile specimens were subsequently extracted from the laminas and instrumented also with asurface-mounted conventional electrical strain gage (SG). Comparison between the FBG and SG measurementsduring static tensile tests allowed the evaluation of the strain monitoring capability of the FBGs, inparticular of their sensitivity (i.e., gage factor) when embedded.

POLYNOMIAL FACTORIZATION THROUGH L_γ(μ) SPACES

Cilia, Raffaella,Gutierrez, Joaquin M. Korean Mathematical Society 2009 대한수학회지 Vol.46 No.6

We give conditions so that a polynomial be factorable through an $L_{\gamma}({\mu})$ space. Among them, we prove that, given a Banach space X and an index m, every absolutely summing operator on X is 1-factorable if and only if every 1-dominated m-homogeneous polynomial on X is right 1-factorable, if and only if every 1-dominated m-homogeneous polynomial on X is left 1-factorable. As a consequence, if X has local unconditional structure, then every 1-dominated homogeneous polynomial on X is right and left 1-factorable.

Lung Ultrasound to Evaluate Invasive Fungal Diseases after Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

Greco Raffaella,Lazzari Lorenzo,Xue Elisabetta,Assanelli Andrea,Marktel Sarah,Giglio Fabio,Clerici Daniela,Lupo Stanghellini Maria Teresa,Corti Consuelo,Bernardi Massimo,Ciceri Fabio,Peccatori Jacopo 대한감염학회 2019 Infection and Chemotherapy Vol.51 No.4

Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) are a leading cause of infection-related-mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). In this prospective pilot study, we investigated the use of bedside lung ultrasound (US) in IFD management. Ten consecutive hematological patients, who developed pulmonary IFD after HSCT, were included in the study. Standard computed tomography scan and lung US were performed at IFD diagnosis and 10 days after antifungal treatment. The lung US demonstrated a high sensitivity in the detection of lung lesions at IFD diagnosis and in the follow-up examinations. It is of potential clinical relevance for IFD management in hematological patients.

In vitro toxicological assessment of PhSeZnCl in human liver cells

di Vito Raffaella,Levorato Sara,Fatigoni Cristina,Acito Mattia,Sancineto Luca,Traina Giovanna,Villarini Milena,Santi Claudio,Moretti Massimo 한국독성학회 2023 Toxicological Research Vol.39 No.1

Phenylselenenylzinc chloride (PhSeZnCl) is an air-stable selenolate, easily synthesizable through oxidative insertion of elemental zinc into the Se-halogen bond of the commercially available phenylselenyl chloride. PhSeZnCl was shown to possess a marked GPx-like activity both in NMR and in vitro tests, and to effectively react with cellular thiols, and was supposed for a potential use in the chemotherapy of drug-resistant cancers. However, activity of PhSeZnCl in hepatic cells has never been tested before now. In this in vitro approach, we evaluated the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic activities, as well as the effects on cell cycle of PhSeZnCl in two preclinical hepatic models, namely HepG2 and HepaRG cells. Results showed that cell viability of HepG2 and HepaRG cells decreased in a dose-dependent manner, with a more marked effect in HepG2 tumour cells. Moreover, treatment with 50 μg/mL PhSeZnCl caused an increase of primary DNA damage (4 h) and a statistically significant increase of HepG2 cells arrested in G2/ M phase. In addition, it altered mitochondrial membrane potential and induced chromosomal DNA fragmentation (24 h). In HepaRG cells, PhSeZnCl was able to determine a cell cycle-independent induction of apoptosis. Particularly, 50 μg/mL induced mitochondrial membrane depolarization after 24 h and apoptosis after 4 h treatment. Futhermore, all PhSeZnCl concentrations tested determined a significant increase of apoptotic cells after 24 h. Apoptosis was also highlighted by the detection of active Caspase-3 by Western Blot analysis after 24 h exposure. In conclusion, this first toxicological assessment provides new insights into the biological activity of PhSeZnCl in preclinical hepatic models that will be useful in future safety assessment investigation of this compound as a potential pharmaceutical.

Does Globalization Matter on Fiscal Decentralization? New Evidence from the OECD

Barbara Ermini,Raffaella Santolini 연세대학교 동서문제연구원 2014 Global economic review Vol.43 No.2

In this paper, we re-examine the effects of globalization on fiscal decentralization of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) member countries by using the overall KOF index of globalization and its main subcomponents — economic, political and social integration. Using different indicators of fiscal decentralization, we find a positive impact of the overall index of globalization on both tax revenue and expenditure decentralization side, although not robust across different panel data specifications. Focusing on the links between decentralization and subcomponents of globalization, we find that both economic and social integration foster fiscal decentralization, whereas political integration inhibits its growth.