Giuseppe Murdolo | University of Perugia, Italy (original) (raw)
Papers by Giuseppe Murdolo
Circulation journal, Dec 25, 2018
European Heart Journal Supplements, Apr 1, 2023
Molecules
Cryoprotective and cytoprotective agents (Cytoprotective Agents) are fundamental components of th... more Cryoprotective and cytoprotective agents (Cytoprotective Agents) are fundamental components of the cryopreservation process. This review presents the essentials of the cryopreservation process by examining its drawbacks and the role of cytoprotective agents in protecting cell physiology. Natural cryoprotective and cytoprotective agents, such as antifreeze proteins, sugars and natural deep eutectic systems, have been compared with synthetic ones, addressing their mechanisms of action and efficacy of protection. The final part of this article focuses melatonin, a hormonal substance with antioxidant properties, and its emerging role as a cytoprotective agent for somatic cells and gametes, including ovarian tissue, spermatozoa and spermatogonial stem cells.
Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society, Jan 26, 2018
Pericardial fat volume (PFV), defined as the volume of ectopic fat in and around the heart, is as... more Pericardial fat volume (PFV), defined as the volume of ectopic fat in and around the heart, is associated with the atherosclerotic process in coronary arteries. The magnitude of change in PFV over time and the factors affecting this change in a general population, however, have not been investigated.Methods and Results:Cardiac computed tomography (CT) was carried out at baseline and at follow-up in 623 Japanese men aged 40-79 years without a history of cardiovascular disease who were selected randomly in Kusatsu (Shiga, Japan). PFV was measured on cardiac CT in a qualified laboratory. Age, heart rate, triglycerides, and obesity measurements (weight, body mass index, and waist circumference) were significantly and positively associated with PFV at baseline. Over an average interval of 4.7 years, median PFV increased significantly from 64.1 cm(IQR, 47.2-90.0 cm) to 73.6 cm(IQR, 53.3-98.1 cm; P<0.001). Current smoking and heart rate were significantly and independently associated wi...
Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology, 2011
Organoselenium Chemistry Between Synthesis and Biochemistry, 2014
Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 2005
Aim: The aim of our study was to comparatively evaluate the efficacy and safety of orlistat and ... more Aim: The aim of our study was to comparatively evaluate the efficacy and safety of orlistat and sibutramine treatment in obese hypertensive patients, with a specific attention to cardiovascular effects and to side effects because of this treatment.Methods: Patients were enrolled, evaluated and followed at three Italian Centres of Internal Medicine. We evaluated 115 obese and hypertensive patients. (55 males and 60 females; 26 males and 29 females, aged 50 ± 4 with orlistat; 28 males and 30 females, aged 51 ± 5 with sibutramine). All patients took antihypertensive therapy for at least 6 months before the study. We administered orlistat or sibutramine in a randomized, controlled, double‐blind clinical study. We evaluated anthropometric variables, blood pressure and heart rate (HR) during 12 months of this treatment.Results: A total of 113 completed the 4 weeks with controlled energy diet and were randomized to double‐blind treatment with orlistat (n = 55) or sibutramine (n = 58). S...
Critical Care, 2007
Hydrogen sulfide is produced endogenously by a variety of enzymes involved in cysteine metabolism... more Hydrogen sulfide is produced endogenously by a variety of enzymes involved in cysteine metabolism. Clinical data indicate that endogenous levels of hydrogen sulfide are diminished in various forms of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of hydrogen sulfide supplementation on cardiac function during reperfusion in a clinically relevant experimental model of cardiopulmonary bypass. Twelve anesthetized dogs underwent hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. After 60 minutes of hypothermic cardiac arrest, reperfusion was started after application of either saline vehicle (control, n = 6), or the sodium sulfide infusion (1 mg/kg/hour, n = 6). Biventricular hemodynamic variables were measured by combined pressure-volume-conductance catheters. Coronary and pulmonary blood flow, vasodilator responses to acetylcholine and sodiumnitroprusside and pulmonary function were also determined. Administration of sodium sulfide led to a significantly better recovery of left and right ventricular systolic function (P < 0.05) after 60 minutes of reperfusion. Coronary blood flow was also significantly higher in the sodium sulfide-treated group (P < 0.05). Sodium sulfide treatment improved coronary blood flow, and preserved the acetylcholine-induced increases in coronary and pulmonary blood (P < 0.05). Myocardial ATP levels were markedly improved in the sulfide-treated group. Thus, supplementation of sulfide improves the recovery of myocardial and endothelial function and energetic status after hypothermic cardiac arrest during cardiopulmonary bypass. These beneficial effects occurred without any detectable adverse hemodynamic or cardiovascular effects of sulfide at the dose used in the current study.
PLoS ONE, 2021
Background Elevated plantar pressures represent a significant risk factor for neuropathic diabeti... more Background Elevated plantar pressures represent a significant risk factor for neuropathic diabetic foot (NDF) ulceration. Foot offloading, through custom-made insoles, is essential for prevention and healing of NDF ulcerations. Objective quantitative evaluation to design custom-made insoles is not a standard method. Aims: 1) to develop a novel quantitative-statistical framework (QSF) for the evaluation and design of the insoles’ offloading performance through in-shoe pressure measurement; 2) to compare the pressure-relieving efficiency of traditional shape-based total contact customised insoles (TCCI) with a novel CAD-CAM approach by the QSF. Methods We recruited 30 neuropathic diabetic patients in cross-sectional study design. The risk-regions of interest (R-ROIs) and their areas with in-shoe peak pressure statistically ≥200kPa were identified for each patients’ foot as determined on the average of peak pressure maps ascertained per each stance phase. Repeated measures Friedman tes...
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Adipose tissue (AT) is a remarkably plastic and active organ with functional pleiotropism and hig... more Adipose tissue (AT) is a remarkably plastic and active organ with functional pleiotropism and high remodeling capacity. Although the expansion of fat mass, by definition, represents the hallmark of obesity, the dysregulation of the adipose organ emerges as the forefront of the link between adiposity and its associated metabolic and cardiovascular complications. The dysfunctional fat displays distinct biological signatures, which include enlarged fat cells, low-grade inflammation, impaired redox homeostasis, and cellular senescence. While these events are orchestrated in a cell-type, context-dependent and temporal manner, the failure of the adipose precursor cells to form new adipocytes appears to be the main instigator of the adipose dysregulation, which, ultimately, poses a deleterious milieu either by promoting ectopic lipid overspill in non-adipose targets (i.e., lipotoxicity) or by inducing an altered secretion of different adipose-derived hormones (i.e., adipokines and lipokine...
Journal of Pineal Research, 2019
Melatonin (MLT) plays a role in preserving bone health, a function that may depend on homeostatic... more Melatonin (MLT) plays a role in preserving bone health, a function that may depend on homeostatic effects on both mature osteoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of the bone tissue. In this study, these functions of MLT have been investigated in rat bone (femur) and in human adipose MSC (hMSC) during chronic exposure to low‐grade cadmium (Cd) toxicity, a serious public health concern. The in vivo findings demonstrate that MLT protects against Cd‐induced bone metabolism disruption and accumulation of bone marrow adipocytes, a cue of impaired osteogenic potential of skeletal MSC niches. This latter symptom was recapitulated in hMSCs in which Cd toxicity stimulated adipogenic differentiation. MLT was found to rescue, at least in part, the osteogenic differentiation properties of these cells. This study reports on a new bone cytoprotection function of MLT pertinent to Cd toxicity and its interfering effect on skeletal MSC differentiation properties that is worth investigating for its possible impact on human bone pathophysiology.
Minerva Medica, 2018
BACKGROUND In hospitalized medical patients, the venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk is notable. Ne... more BACKGROUND In hospitalized medical patients, the venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk is notable. Nevertheless, the available assessment model (TPF) is generally underused. In this work, we propose an ex novo risk assessment model based on the elaboration of the clinical data exhibited by the VET patients. Differently from previous studies, the proposed approach does not exploit pre-established models, resulting in a more valid and easy-to-use score. METHODS We performed a double case-control observational study. For each case of VTE, we enrolled two consecutive patients without VTE of equal sex and age group (18-50, 50-55, 55-60, 60-65, 65-70, 70-75, 75-80, >80 years). The study involved both the EM and the IM Departments of 23 hospitals and universities in Lazio and Umbria (Italy). RESULTS We analyzed the data of 1215 patients, 409 with VTE (50% - deep venous thrombosis [DVT], 9.9% - pulmonary embolism [PE], 40.1% - PE+DVT) and 806 case-control. 365 patients (30%) were in charge to the EM department, while 850 patients (70%) to the IM one. The VET risk factors with more statistical significance (P<0.01) are: previous VTE, active cancer, known thrombophilic condition, immobilization, chronic venous insufficiency, hyperhomocysteinemia, central venous catheter, recent hospitalization. Obesity, recent surgery, family history of VTE, hormone therapy and treatment with drugs that stimulate hematopoiesis are resulted at intermediate statistical significance (P<0.05 but >0.01). A multiple logistic regression was used with robust standard errors and forward selection of the candidate variables using the Bayesian information criterion. A new score is developed, the "TEVere Score", which shows a higher specificity and sensitivity (respectively 43.3 and 87.5, with accuracy 72.1) compared with the Padua, the Kuscer and the Chopard Score. TEVere Score also exhibits a greater predictive validity for thromboembolism risk (AUROC 0.7266; 95% CI: 0.71 to 0.73) than the Kuscer Score (AUROC 0.6891; 95% CI: 0.67 to 0.70) (P=0.0093). CONCLUSIONS The TEVere Score has proven to exhibit a higher accuracy than the other scores commonly used in clinical practice to stratify the thromboembolism risk.
Circulation journal, Dec 25, 2018
European Heart Journal Supplements, Apr 1, 2023
Molecules
Cryoprotective and cytoprotective agents (Cytoprotective Agents) are fundamental components of th... more Cryoprotective and cytoprotective agents (Cytoprotective Agents) are fundamental components of the cryopreservation process. This review presents the essentials of the cryopreservation process by examining its drawbacks and the role of cytoprotective agents in protecting cell physiology. Natural cryoprotective and cytoprotective agents, such as antifreeze proteins, sugars and natural deep eutectic systems, have been compared with synthetic ones, addressing their mechanisms of action and efficacy of protection. The final part of this article focuses melatonin, a hormonal substance with antioxidant properties, and its emerging role as a cytoprotective agent for somatic cells and gametes, including ovarian tissue, spermatozoa and spermatogonial stem cells.
Circulation journal : official journal of the Japanese Circulation Society, Jan 26, 2018
Pericardial fat volume (PFV), defined as the volume of ectopic fat in and around the heart, is as... more Pericardial fat volume (PFV), defined as the volume of ectopic fat in and around the heart, is associated with the atherosclerotic process in coronary arteries. The magnitude of change in PFV over time and the factors affecting this change in a general population, however, have not been investigated.Methods and Results:Cardiac computed tomography (CT) was carried out at baseline and at follow-up in 623 Japanese men aged 40-79 years without a history of cardiovascular disease who were selected randomly in Kusatsu (Shiga, Japan). PFV was measured on cardiac CT in a qualified laboratory. Age, heart rate, triglycerides, and obesity measurements (weight, body mass index, and waist circumference) were significantly and positively associated with PFV at baseline. Over an average interval of 4.7 years, median PFV increased significantly from 64.1 cm(IQR, 47.2-90.0 cm) to 73.6 cm(IQR, 53.3-98.1 cm; P<0.001). Current smoking and heart rate were significantly and independently associated wi...
Italian Journal of Anatomy and Embryology, 2011
Organoselenium Chemistry Between Synthesis and Biochemistry, 2014
Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, 2005
Aim: The aim of our study was to comparatively evaluate the efficacy and safety of orlistat and ... more Aim: The aim of our study was to comparatively evaluate the efficacy and safety of orlistat and sibutramine treatment in obese hypertensive patients, with a specific attention to cardiovascular effects and to side effects because of this treatment.Methods: Patients were enrolled, evaluated and followed at three Italian Centres of Internal Medicine. We evaluated 115 obese and hypertensive patients. (55 males and 60 females; 26 males and 29 females, aged 50 ± 4 with orlistat; 28 males and 30 females, aged 51 ± 5 with sibutramine). All patients took antihypertensive therapy for at least 6 months before the study. We administered orlistat or sibutramine in a randomized, controlled, double‐blind clinical study. We evaluated anthropometric variables, blood pressure and heart rate (HR) during 12 months of this treatment.Results: A total of 113 completed the 4 weeks with controlled energy diet and were randomized to double‐blind treatment with orlistat (n = 55) or sibutramine (n = 58). S...
Critical Care, 2007
Hydrogen sulfide is produced endogenously by a variety of enzymes involved in cysteine metabolism... more Hydrogen sulfide is produced endogenously by a variety of enzymes involved in cysteine metabolism. Clinical data indicate that endogenous levels of hydrogen sulfide are diminished in various forms of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of hydrogen sulfide supplementation on cardiac function during reperfusion in a clinically relevant experimental model of cardiopulmonary bypass. Twelve anesthetized dogs underwent hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. After 60 minutes of hypothermic cardiac arrest, reperfusion was started after application of either saline vehicle (control, n = 6), or the sodium sulfide infusion (1 mg/kg/hour, n = 6). Biventricular hemodynamic variables were measured by combined pressure-volume-conductance catheters. Coronary and pulmonary blood flow, vasodilator responses to acetylcholine and sodiumnitroprusside and pulmonary function were also determined. Administration of sodium sulfide led to a significantly better recovery of left and right ventricular systolic function (P < 0.05) after 60 minutes of reperfusion. Coronary blood flow was also significantly higher in the sodium sulfide-treated group (P < 0.05). Sodium sulfide treatment improved coronary blood flow, and preserved the acetylcholine-induced increases in coronary and pulmonary blood (P < 0.05). Myocardial ATP levels were markedly improved in the sulfide-treated group. Thus, supplementation of sulfide improves the recovery of myocardial and endothelial function and energetic status after hypothermic cardiac arrest during cardiopulmonary bypass. These beneficial effects occurred without any detectable adverse hemodynamic or cardiovascular effects of sulfide at the dose used in the current study.
PLoS ONE, 2021
Background Elevated plantar pressures represent a significant risk factor for neuropathic diabeti... more Background Elevated plantar pressures represent a significant risk factor for neuropathic diabetic foot (NDF) ulceration. Foot offloading, through custom-made insoles, is essential for prevention and healing of NDF ulcerations. Objective quantitative evaluation to design custom-made insoles is not a standard method. Aims: 1) to develop a novel quantitative-statistical framework (QSF) for the evaluation and design of the insoles’ offloading performance through in-shoe pressure measurement; 2) to compare the pressure-relieving efficiency of traditional shape-based total contact customised insoles (TCCI) with a novel CAD-CAM approach by the QSF. Methods We recruited 30 neuropathic diabetic patients in cross-sectional study design. The risk-regions of interest (R-ROIs) and their areas with in-shoe peak pressure statistically ≥200kPa were identified for each patients’ foot as determined on the average of peak pressure maps ascertained per each stance phase. Repeated measures Friedman tes...
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
Adipose tissue (AT) is a remarkably plastic and active organ with functional pleiotropism and hig... more Adipose tissue (AT) is a remarkably plastic and active organ with functional pleiotropism and high remodeling capacity. Although the expansion of fat mass, by definition, represents the hallmark of obesity, the dysregulation of the adipose organ emerges as the forefront of the link between adiposity and its associated metabolic and cardiovascular complications. The dysfunctional fat displays distinct biological signatures, which include enlarged fat cells, low-grade inflammation, impaired redox homeostasis, and cellular senescence. While these events are orchestrated in a cell-type, context-dependent and temporal manner, the failure of the adipose precursor cells to form new adipocytes appears to be the main instigator of the adipose dysregulation, which, ultimately, poses a deleterious milieu either by promoting ectopic lipid overspill in non-adipose targets (i.e., lipotoxicity) or by inducing an altered secretion of different adipose-derived hormones (i.e., adipokines and lipokine...
Journal of Pineal Research, 2019
Melatonin (MLT) plays a role in preserving bone health, a function that may depend on homeostatic... more Melatonin (MLT) plays a role in preserving bone health, a function that may depend on homeostatic effects on both mature osteoblasts and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) of the bone tissue. In this study, these functions of MLT have been investigated in rat bone (femur) and in human adipose MSC (hMSC) during chronic exposure to low‐grade cadmium (Cd) toxicity, a serious public health concern. The in vivo findings demonstrate that MLT protects against Cd‐induced bone metabolism disruption and accumulation of bone marrow adipocytes, a cue of impaired osteogenic potential of skeletal MSC niches. This latter symptom was recapitulated in hMSCs in which Cd toxicity stimulated adipogenic differentiation. MLT was found to rescue, at least in part, the osteogenic differentiation properties of these cells. This study reports on a new bone cytoprotection function of MLT pertinent to Cd toxicity and its interfering effect on skeletal MSC differentiation properties that is worth investigating for its possible impact on human bone pathophysiology.
Minerva Medica, 2018
BACKGROUND In hospitalized medical patients, the venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk is notable. Ne... more BACKGROUND In hospitalized medical patients, the venous thromboembolism (VTE) risk is notable. Nevertheless, the available assessment model (TPF) is generally underused. In this work, we propose an ex novo risk assessment model based on the elaboration of the clinical data exhibited by the VET patients. Differently from previous studies, the proposed approach does not exploit pre-established models, resulting in a more valid and easy-to-use score. METHODS We performed a double case-control observational study. For each case of VTE, we enrolled two consecutive patients without VTE of equal sex and age group (18-50, 50-55, 55-60, 60-65, 65-70, 70-75, 75-80, >80 years). The study involved both the EM and the IM Departments of 23 hospitals and universities in Lazio and Umbria (Italy). RESULTS We analyzed the data of 1215 patients, 409 with VTE (50% - deep venous thrombosis [DVT], 9.9% - pulmonary embolism [PE], 40.1% - PE+DVT) and 806 case-control. 365 patients (30%) were in charge to the EM department, while 850 patients (70%) to the IM one. The VET risk factors with more statistical significance (P<0.01) are: previous VTE, active cancer, known thrombophilic condition, immobilization, chronic venous insufficiency, hyperhomocysteinemia, central venous catheter, recent hospitalization. Obesity, recent surgery, family history of VTE, hormone therapy and treatment with drugs that stimulate hematopoiesis are resulted at intermediate statistical significance (P<0.05 but >0.01). A multiple logistic regression was used with robust standard errors and forward selection of the candidate variables using the Bayesian information criterion. A new score is developed, the "TEVere Score", which shows a higher specificity and sensitivity (respectively 43.3 and 87.5, with accuracy 72.1) compared with the Padua, the Kuscer and the Chopard Score. TEVere Score also exhibits a greater predictive validity for thromboembolism risk (AUROC 0.7266; 95% CI: 0.71 to 0.73) than the Kuscer Score (AUROC 0.6891; 95% CI: 0.67 to 0.70) (P=0.0093). CONCLUSIONS The TEVere Score has proven to exhibit a higher accuracy than the other scores commonly used in clinical practice to stratify the thromboembolism risk.