Calcite moonmilk of microbial origin in the Etruscan Tomba degli Scudi in Tarquinia, Italy

A white deposit covering the walls in the Stanza degli Scudi of the Tomba degli Scudi, Tarquinia, Italy, has been investigated. In this chamber, which is still preserved from any kind of intervention such as cleaning and sanitization, ancient Etruscans painted shields to celebrate the military power of the Velcha family. Scanning electron microscopy analysis has revealed the presence of characteristic nanostructures corresponding to a calcite secondary mineral deposit called moonmilk. Analysis of the microbial community identified Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria and Actinobacteria as the most common phyla in strong association with the moonmilk needle fibre calcite and nanofibers of calcium carbonate. Employing classical microbiological analysis, we isolated from moonmilk a Streptomyces strain able to deposit gypsum and calcium carbonate on plates, supporting the hypothesis of an essential contribution of microorganisms to the formation of moonmilk

Effects of leptin on in vitro maturation, fertilization and embryonic cleavage after ICSI and early developmental expression of leptin (Ob) and leptin receptor (ObR) proteins in the horse

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The identification of the adipocyte-derived obesity gene product, leptin (Ob), and subsequently its association with reproduction in rodents and humans led to speculations that leptin may be involved in the regulation of oocyte and preimplantation embryo development. In mice and pigs, in vitro leptin addition significantly increased meiotic resumption and promoted preimplantation embryo development in a dose-dependent manner. This study was conducted to determine whether leptin supplementation during in vitro maturation (IVM) to horse oocytes could have effects on their developmental capacity after fertilization by IntraCytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Compact and expanded-cumulus horse oocytes were matured in medium containing different concentrations (1, 10, 100, 1000 ng/ml) of recombinant human leptin and the effects on maturation, fertilization and embryo cleavage were evaluated. Furthermore, early developmental expression of Ob and leptin receptor (Ob-R) was investigated by immunocytochemical staining.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In expanded-cumulus oocytes, the addition of leptin in IVM medium improved maturation (74% vs 44%, for 100 ng/ml leptin-treated and control groups, respectively; P < 0.05) and fertilization after ICSI (56% vs 23% for 10 ng/ml leptin-treated and control groups, respectively; P < 0.05). However, the developmental rate and quality of 8-cell stage embryos derived from leptin-treated oocytes (100 ng/ml) was significantly reduced, in contrast to previous data in other species where leptin increased embryo cleavage. Ob and Ob-R proteins were detected up to the 8-cell stage with cortical and cytoplasmic granule-like distribution pattern in each blastomere.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Leptin plays a cumulus cell-mediated role in the regulation of oocyte maturation in the mare. Species-specific differences may exist in oocyte sensitivity to leptin.</p

Non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin in older adjuvant early breast cancer patients: cardiac safety analysis and final results of the COLTONE study

Aims: To explore the cardiac safety of adjuvant Non-Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin (NPL-DOX) plus Cyclophosphamide (CTX) followed by weekly Paclitaxel, in elderly women (≥ 65&nbsp;years) with high-risk breast cancer. Previously, we described no symptomatic cardiac events within the first 12&nbsp;months from starting treatment. We now reported the updated results after a median follow-up 76&nbsp;months. Methods: The cardiac activity was evaluated with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) echocardiograms assessments, before starting chemotherapy and every 6&nbsp;months, until 30&nbsp;months from baseline, then yearly for at least 5&nbsp;years. Results: Forty-seven women were recruited by two Units of Medical Oncology (Ethics Committee authorization CESM-AOUP, 3203/2011; EudraCT identification number: 2010-024067-41, for Pisa and Pontedera Hospitals). An episode of grade 3 CHF (NCI-CTCAE, version 3.0) occurred after 18&nbsp;months the beginning of chemotherapy. The echocardiograms assessments were performed comparing the LVEF values of each patient evaluated at fixed period of time, compared to baseline. We observed a slight changed in terms of mean values at 48, 60, 72 and 84&nbsp;months. At these time points, a statistically significant reduction of -&nbsp;3.2%, -&nbsp;4.6%, -&nbsp;6.4% and -&nbsp;7.1%, respectively, was observed. However, LVEF remained above 50% without translation in any relevant clinical signs. No other cardiac significant episodes were reported. To this analysis, in 13 patients (28%) occurred disease relapse&nbsp;and,&nbsp; of them, 11 (23%) died due to metastatic disease. Eight patients died of cancer-unrelated causes. Conclusions: The combination including NPL-DOX in elderly patients revealed low rate of cardiac toxic effects. Comparative trials are encouraged

Fas engagement induces the maturation of dendritic cells (DCs), the release of interleukin (IL)-1beta, and the production of interferon gamma in the absence of IL-12 during DC-T cell cognate interaction: a new role for Fas ligand in inflammatory responses

Ligation of the Fas (CD95) receptor leads to an apoptotic death signal in T cells, B cells, and macrophages. However, human CD34(+)-derived dendritic cells (DCs) and mouse DCs, regardless of their maturation state, are not susceptible to Fas-induced cell death. This resistance correlates with the constitutive expression of the Fas-associated death domain-like IL-1beta-converting enzyme (FLICE)-inhibitory protein (FLIP) ligand. We demonstrate a new role of Fas in DC physiology. Engagement of Fas on immature DCs by Fas ligand (FasL) or by anti-Fas antibodies induces the phenotypical and functional maturation of primary DCs. Fas-activated DCs upregulate the expression of the major histocompatibility complex class II, B7, and DC-lysosome-associated membrane protein (DC-LAMP) molecules and secrete proinflammatory cytokines, in particular interleukin (IL)-1beta and tumor necrosis factor alpha. Mature DCs, if exposed to FasL, produce even higher amounts of IL-1beta. Importantly, it is possible to reduce the production of IL-1beta and interferon (IFN)-gamma during DC-T cell interaction by blocking the coupling of Fas-FasL with a Fas competitor. Finally, during cognate DC-T cell recognition, IL-12 (p70) could not be detected at early or late time points, indicating that Fas-induced, IFN-gamma secretion is independent of IL-12

Du Sud de la montagne de Lure aux sépultures de Grimaldi : le silex zoné stampien dit "du Largue". Un matériau de prestige du Paléolithique supérieur liguro-provençal.

International audienceFrom the South of the mountain of Lure to the graves of Grimaldi caves : the Stampian banded flint so called "du Largue" A stampian zoned flint, very appreciated during Gravettian period, was found in offering, as large blades or tools, in several graves of the Grimaldi caves (Barma Grande, Baousso da Torre and Fanciulli Cave). This exotic raw material of xyloid aspect proceeds from the Southern foot of the mountain of Lure in the High Provence. The area of exploitation sometimes covers the famous extraction's workshops of the Late Neolithic in the Largue valley, a sector where the Upper Palaeolithic up to here was supposed absent, and where our investigations proved a sure and important exploitation of this raw material during this period. The Upper Paleolithic sites of Eastern Provence confirm the use and the diffusion of the zoned flint since Protoauriognacian, but it is in the Early Gravettian that this allochtonous flint takes all its symbolic value and acquires the status of prestigious material in a funeral context.Un silex stampien zoné, très apprécié au Gravettien, se retrouve en offrande, sous forme de grandes lames ou d'outils, dans plusieurs sépultures des grottes de Grimaldi (Barma Grande, Baousso da Torre, et Grotte des Enfants). Ce matériau exotique d'aspect xyloïde provient du pied méridional de la montagne de Lure dans les Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. La zone d'exploitation recouvre parfois les célèbres ateliers d'extraction du Néolithique final de la vallée du Largue, dans un secteur où le Paléolithique supérieur jusqu'ici était supposé absent, et où nos investigations ont prouvé une exploitation certaine et importante de ce matériau à cette période. Les sites du Paléolithique supérieur de Provence orientale confirment l'utilisation et la diffusion du silex zoné depuis le Protoaurignacien, mais c'est au Gravettien ancien que ce silex allochtone prend toute sa valeur symbolique et acquiert le statut de matériau de prestige dans un contexte funéraire

Impariamo a programmare. Il coding nella didattica della Scuola dell’Infanzia e della Scuola Primaria

Il contributo si inserisce all'interno della Cittadinanza onlife: è il ripensamento del digitale a scuola attorno all’educazione allo spirito critico e alla responsabilità. La proposta nasce da due testi quadro (la legge 92 sull’Educazione civica e il Curriculum di Educazione Civica Digitale), due progetti di formazione di istituti scolastici (l’IIS L. Einaudi di Chiari e l’ICS E. Curiel di Paullo-Tribiano) e soprattutto 74 autori tra insegnanti ― dalla scuola dell’infanzia alla secondaria di ii grado ―, dirigenti scolastiche e formatori del Centro di Ricerca sull’Educazione ai Media, all’Innovazione e alla Tecnologia (CREMIT) dell’Università Cattolica. Cos'è il coding all'interno della Cittadinanza Digitale? Come questo approccio didattico può essere trasversale alle discipline e non semplicemente una disciplina STEM? Le autrici si interrogano su questo, proponendo una possibile modellizzazione per ripensare il coding come didattica attiva e critica, che permetta ai bambini di riflettere sul nostro mondo di dati ma anche di creatività

Du sud de la montagne de Lure aux s\ue9pultures de Grimaldi: le silex zon\ue9 stampien dit \uab du Largue\ubb - Un mat\ue9riau de prestige du Pal\ue9olithique sup\ue9rieur liguro-proven\ue7al.

A stampian zoned flint

Cardiac safety of adjuvant non-pegylated liposomal doxorubicin combined with cyclophosphamide and followed by paclitaxel in older breast cancer patients

Purpose To investigate the cardiac safety of adjuvant Non-Pegylated Liposomal Doxorubicin (NPL-DOX) combined to Cyclophosphamide (CTX) and followed by weekly Paclitaxel, in older patients (≥65 years) with diagnosis of high risk breast cancer. The main end point of this prospective study was the detection of early episodes of symptomatic congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods The cardiac function was evaluated by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) measurements with repeated echocardiograms, performed 2 weeks before the beginning of chemotherapy and every 6 months, until 30 months after the study entry; then yearly for at least 5 years. Results Forty-seven patients were enrolled from two Italian Divisions of Medical Oncology. Final results revealed no early episodes of symptomatic CHF within the first 12 months from the enrolment. Only two cardiac events were observed: an episode of atrial flutter after the first cycle of NPL-DOX and CTX, with a quick return to normal rhythm, and a grade 3 (scored to NCI-CTCAE, version 3.0) CHF episode, 18 months later chemotherapy start. No other relevant toxicities were reported. Conclusions This adjuvant combination including NPL-DOX in elderly patients, resulted in a low rate of cardiac toxic effects. Comparative trials should be encouraged to confirm these finding