Preliminary study on the assessment of visceral adipose tissue using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was shown to be increased in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) compared to control subjects with comparable body mass index (BMI). Our aim was to determine the relation of VAT by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) in patients with COPD by disease severity, BMI, other indices of body composition and static lung volumes. Methods: 294 COPD patients admitted for rehabilitation were studied. Lung function, static lung volumes and body composition (i.e. BMI, waist circumference, fat-free mass, fat mass and fat distribution between android and gynoid fat mass) were assessed before entering pulmonary rehabilitation. VAT was estimated within the android region by using DEXA. Patients were stratified for gender, BMI (cut-off of 25 kg/m2) and GOLD stage. To assess the impact of VAT on lung volumes, patients were also stratified for VAT less and above 50th percentile. Results: Both male and female patients with more severe airflow limitation had significantly lower VAT values, but these differences disappeared after stratification for BMI. VAT was significantly and strongly correlated with other body composition parameters (all p < 0.001). Patients with moderate to severe airflow limitation and lower VAT had increased static lung hyperinflation and lower diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide. Nevertheless, multivariate stepwise regression models including for BMI, age, gender and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) as confounders did not confirm an independent role for VAT on static lung hyperinflation and diffusion capacity. Conclusion: After stratification for BMI, VAT is comparable in moderate to very severe COPD patients. Furthermore, BMI and demographics, but not VAT, were independent predictors of static lung hyperinflation and diffusing capacity in COPD

Microscopic structure of a vortex line in superfluid neutron star matter

The microscopic structure of an isolated vortex line in superfluid neutron star matter is studied by solving the Bogoliubov-de Gennes equations. Our calculation, which is the starting point for a microscopic calculation of pinning forces in neutron stars, shows that the size of the vortex core varies differently with density, and is in general smaller than assumed in some earlier calculations of vortex pinning in neutron star crusts. The implications of this result are discussedComment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Modern meson--exchange potential and superfluid neutron star crust matter

In this work we study properties of neutron star crusts, where matter is expected to consist of nuclei surrounded by superfluid neutrons and a homogeneous background of relativistic electrons. The nuclei are disposed in a Coulomb lattice, and it is believed that the structure of the lattice influences considerably the specific heat of the neutronic matter inside the crust of a neutron star. Using a modern meson--exchange potential in the framework of a local--density approximation we calculate the neutronic specific heat accounting for various shapes of the Coulomb lattice, from spherical to non--spherical nuclear shapes. We find that a realistic nucleon--nucleon potential leads to a significant increase in the neutronic specific heat with respect to that obtained assuming a uniform neutron distribution. The increase is largest for the non--spherical phase of the crust. These results may have consequences for the thermal history of young neutron stars.Comment: Revtex, 5 pages, 4 figures included as uuencoded p

The good and bad of nrf2: An update in cancer and new perspectives in COVID-19

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a well-known transcription factor best recognised as one of the main regulators of the oxidative stress response. Beyond playing a crucial role in cell defence by transactivating cytoprotective genes encoding antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes, Nrf2 is also implicated in a wide network regulating anti-inflammatory response and metabolic reprogramming. Such a broad spectrum of actions renders the factor a key regulator of cell fate and a strategic player in the control of cell transformation and response to viral infections. The Nrf2 protective roles in normal cells account for its anti-tumour and anti-viral functions. However, Nrf2 overstimulation often occurs in tumour cells and a complex correlation of Nrf2 with cancer initiation and progression has been widely described. Therefore, if on one hand, Nrf2 has a dual role in cancer, on the other hand, the factor seems to display a univocal function in preventing inflammation and cytokine storm that occur under viral infections, specifically in coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). In such a variegate context, the present review aims to dissect the roles of Nrf2 in both cancer and COVID-19, two widespread diseases that represent a cause of major concern today. In particular, the review describes the molecular aspects of Nrf2 signalling in both pathological situations and the most recent findings about the advantages of Nrf2 inhibition or activation as possible strategies for cancer and COVID-19 treatment respectively

The beneficial effects of essential oils in anti-obesity treatment

Obesity is a complex disease caused by an excessive amount of body fat. Obesity is a medical problem and represents an important risk factor for the development of serious diseases such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some types of cancer. Not to be overlooked are the psychological issues that, in obese subjects, turn into very serious pathologies, such as depression, phobias, anxiety, and lack of self-esteem. In addition to modifying one’s lifestyle, the reduction of body mass can be promoted by different natural compounds such as essential oils (EOs). EOs are mixtures of aromatic substances produced by many plants, particularly in medicinal and aromatic ones. They are odorous and volatile and contain a mixture of terpenes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, and esters. Thanks to the characteristics of the various chemical components present in them, EOs are used in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical fields. Indeed, it has been shown that EOs possess great antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor powers. Emerging results also demonstrate the anti-obesity effects of EOs. We have examined the main data obtained in experimental studies and, in this review, we summarize the effect of EOs in obesity and obesityrelated metabolic diseases

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Okadaic acid-Parthenolide combination at subtoxic doses induces potent synergistic apoptotic effects in human retinoblastoma Y79 cells by upregulating PTEN.

Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular malignancy afflicting children. The incidence is higher in developing countries, where treatment is limited and long-term survival rates are low. Vincristine, etoposide, and carboplatin -the agents commonly used in the treatment of retinoblastoma- determine side effects causing significant morbidity to pediatric patients and significantly limiting dosing. Thus, identifying new drugs and molecular targets to facilitate the development of novel therapeutics, and finding natural drug combinations to kill cancer cells by synergistically acting at subtoxic doses, may be a good goal. Here, we investigated the effects of two natural compounds, okadaic acid (OKA) and parthenolide (PN), in human retinoblastoma Y79 cells. We showed that OKA/PN combination at subtoxic doses induces potent synergistic apoptotic effects accompanied by decrease in p-Akt, increase in the stabilized p53 forms and potent decrease in pS166\u2013Mdm2. We also showed the key involvement of PTEN which, after OKA/PN treatment, potently increased before p53, suggesting that p53 activation was under PTEN action. PTEN-knockdown increased p-Akt/ pS166Mdm2 over basal levels and significantly lowered p53, while OKA/PN treatment failed both to lower p-Akt and pS166\u2013Mdm2 and to increase p53 below/over their basal levels respectively. OKA/PN treatment potently increased ROS levels while decreased those of GSH. Reducing cellular GSH by butathionine-sulfoximine treatment significantly anticipated the cytotoxic effect exerted by OKA/PN. The effects of OKA/PN treatment on both GSH content and cell viability were less pronounced in PTEN silenced cells than in control cells. Our study reports for the first time both a synergistic apoptotic action between OKA and PN and the involvement of PTEN as key player in the apoptotic mechanism in human retinoblastoma Y79 cells. The results provide strong suggestion for combined inhibition of the PTEN/Akt/Mdm2/p53 pathway

In human retinoblastoma Y79 cells okadaic acid\u2013parthenolide co-treatment induces synergistic apoptotic effects, with PTEN as a key player.

Retinoblastoma is the most common intraocular malignancy of childhood. In developing countries, treatment is limited, long-term survival rates are low and current chemotherapy causes significant morbidity to pediatric patients and significantly limits dosing. Therefore there is an urgent need to identify new therapeutic strategies to improve the clinical outcome of patients with retinoblastoma. here, we investigated the effects of two natural compounds okadaic acid (OKa) and parthenolide (PN) on human retinoblastoma Y79 cells. For the first time we showed that OKa/PN combination at subtoxic doses induces potent synergistic apoptotic effects accompanied by lowering in p-akt levels, increasing in the stabilized forms of p53 and potent decrease in ps166-Mdm2. We also showed the key involvement of PTeN which, after OKa/PN treatment, potently increased before p53, thus suggesting that p53 activation was under PTeN action. Moreover, after PTEN-knockdown p-akt/ ps166Mdm2 increased over basal levels and p53 significantly lowered, while OKa/PN treatment failed both to lower p-akt and ps166-Mdm2 and to increase p53 below/over their basal levels respectively. OKa/PN treatment potently increased ROs levels whereas decreased those of Gsh. Reducing cellular Gsh by l-butathionine-[s,R]-sulfoximine treatment significantly anticipated the cytotoxic effect exerted by OKa/ PN. Furthermore, the effects of OKa/PN treatment on both Gsh content and cell viability were less pronounced in PTeN silenced cells than in control cells. The results provide strong suggestion for combining a treatment approach that targets the PTeN/akt/Mdm2/p53 pathway

Semiclassical Approximation to Neutron Star Superfluidity Corrected for Proximity Effects

The inner crust of a neutron star is a superfluid and inhomogeneous system, consisting of a lattice of nuclei immersed in a sea of neutrons. We perform a quantum calculation of the associated pairing gap and compare it to the results one obtains in the Local Density Approximation (LDA). It is found that the LDA overestimates the spatial dependence of the gap, and leads to a specific heat of the system which is too large at low temperatures, as compared with the quantal result. This is caused by the neglect of proximity effects and the delocalized character of the single-particle wavefunctions close to the Fermi energy. It is possible to introduce an alternative, simple semiclassical approximation of the pairing gap which leads to a specific heat that is in good agreement with the quantum calculation.Comment: RevteX, 8 Postscript Figure