E-learning e futuri studenti in mobilità internazionale. Riflessioni su aspetti e potenzialità di un corso di lingua italiana

The A1 online Italian course offered by the CLA (University Linguistic Centre) of the University of Perugia, is one of the results achieved during various research projects, which has contributed, on the one hand, to the internationalization of the Institution, on the other, to the enhancement of digital technologies providing future university mobility students with the opportunity to acquire linguistic-cultural knowledge, even before the beginning of their mobility exchange programme in Italy. The experience reported in this article reflects on an evolving work, describing its design phase – course structure, selection and creation of linguistic and didactic materials, tools available in the Moodle open-source learning platform – and its subsequent phases of course activation and verification. Throughout the entire project, we focused on two fundamental aspects: inspiring and maintaining student motivation in addition to constructing an assisted, and above all, interactive self-learning path

HtrA1 in differentiation and growth of human placental tissues

HtrA1 is a secreted multidomain protein with serine protease activity. We used immunohistochemistry, western blotting, real time PCR and ELISA techniques to analyse the role of HtrA1 in normal and pathological development of human placental villous trees. In addition, we evaluated the alterations of maternal plasma HtrA1 level in preeclampsia (PE) complicated by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). HtrA1 is expressed in the mesenchymal villi which are considered the basis of growth and differentiation of the villous trees and in the villous stroma directly opposed to cell islands and cell columns in first trimester placentas. In addition, the villous trophoblast, the syncytial knots and the foetal vessels are stained for HtrA1 in first as well as third trimester placentas [1]. When the placenta escapes the normal differentiation and growth control mechanisms, which are present during normal pregnancy, it may develop gestational diseases, such as trophoblastic disease as well as PE and IUGR [1,2]. The most striking finding of our investigation is the decrease of this protease in placental tissues with increasing severity of gestational diseases and the increase of HtrA1 in maternal plasma of PE complicated by IUGR [3]. Based on these data HtrA1 could be considered as a possible marker of an occurring IUGR in preeclamptic women

Antioxidant systems and lymphocyte proliferation in the horse, sheep and dog

To better define the species-specific antioxidant systems and to ascertain the influence of the intracellular redox status on the immune system of different animal species, we determined lymphocyte glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) activity, plasmatic glutathione levels (GSH) and the effect of H$_2$O$_2$ on the responsiveness of lymphocytes to proliferative stimuli. Among the three species considered, sheep presented the lowest plasmatic GSH and the highest lymphocyte GSHPx activity. On the contrary, dogs showed an inverted pattern (high GSH - low GSHPx). Horses displayed intermediate values for both parameters analysed. The effect of H$_2$O$_2$ on the proliferative capacity of lymphocytes was the same for all three species; the 200 $\mu$M dose in particular was strongly inhibiting. Each species, however, showed different rates of inhibition: sheep exhibited the highest sensitivity to the antiproliferative effect of H$_2$O$_2$. Our results confirmed that high H$_2$O$_2$ concentrations (200 $\mu$M) are noxious for the cellular functions of all animals; however this effect is mediated by a rigorously species-specific relationship between the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the molecular systems involved in cell proliferation.Systèmes anti-oxydants et prolifération lymphocytaire chez le cheval, le mouton et le chien. Afin de définir l'influence de l'activité oxydo-réductrice intracellulaire sur le système immunitaire de différentes espèces animales, nous avons évalué l'activité de la glutathione peroxydase (GSHPx) lymphocytaire, de la glutathione (GSH) plasmatique et l'effet du peroxyde d'hydrogène (H$_2$O$_2$) sur la réponse des lymphocytes aux stimulations prolifératives. Parmi les trois espèces considérées, les moutons présentaient les plus faibles concentrations mineures en GSH plasmatique et l'activité du GSHPx lymphocytaire la plus élevée. Par contre, les chiens montraient un profil inverse (faible activité du GSHPx et concentration de GSH élevée). Les chevaux présentaient des valeurs moyennes pour les deux paramètres évalués. Les effets du H$_2$O$_2$ sur la capacité proliférative des lymphocytes ont été les mêmes dans les trois espèces étudiées, en particulier une dose de 200 $\mu$M s'est révélée fortement inhibitrice. Cependant, chaque espèce a montré des taux différents d'inhibition ; les moutons ont présenté une sensibilité maximale aux effets antiprolifératifs du H$_2$O$_2$. Nos résultats confirment que les concentrations élevées de H2O2 sont nocives pour la fonction cellulaire de tous les animaux. Par ailleurs, cet effet dépend, dans le contexte de la spécificité d'espèce, de la relation existant entre la concentration des dérivés réactifs à l'oxygène (ROS) intracellulaire et les systèmes moléculaires mis en jeu lors de la prolifération cellulaire

Hepatocellular metastasis recurrence in liver transplant after treatment with direct antiviral agents

Chronic HCV liver infection is considered one of the main causes of liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). For a selected group of patients, orthotopic liver transplantation (OLTx) is the most effective option to cure both liver diseases. After liver transplantation, patients may be at risk of viral infection reactivation and HCC recurrence. HCV recurrence on the transplanted organ can lead to graft cirrhosis and therefore the clearance of virus with antiviral therapies has a pivotal role on the prevention of graft damage. Nowadays, direct antiviral agents (DAAs) represent the choice treatment for HCV recurrence in liver transplanted patients, ensuring high eradication rates. We present the case of a liver transplant recipient who developed, 7 years after OLTx and immediately after a DAAs treatment, a subcutaneous abdominal mass with histological characteristics of HCC

Serum trace element levels in Equine Herpesvirus 1 infected horses

Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV-1) is responsible for several syndromes, such as respiratory disease, abortion, fatal viral pneumonia in neonatal foals, and a neurological syndrome, currently referred to as EHV-1 myeloencephalopathy. The analysis of trace element levels in the sera of EHV-1 infected horses could be useful in clarifying the pathogenesis or pathophysiology of these EHVinduced clinical syndromes. Previous studies have shown significant alterations for some serum trace elements (zinc, iron, copper) in EHV-1 infected horses, and this could be justified by the putative role of these elements in many immunological pathways or by their antiviral activity. The aim of the present study was to perform a comparison by retrospective serological study of 52 EHV-1 infected and non-infected horses, both healthy and ill, to establish whether there were possible alterations in serum levels of arsenic, copper, boron, zinc, iron, chromium, magnesium, manganese, selenium, and silicium. Horses were categorized based on the type of syndrome (respiratory disease, abortion, or neurological disease) and the presence of seroconversion (by virus neutralization) and the result of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for EHV-1. Levels of serum chromium, copper, selenium, boron, and silicium were significantly different among different groups of EHV-1 infected or non-infected horses. Serum chromium levels were higher in infected horses compared to non-infected individuals (p=0.0001). Levels of serum copper (p=0.001), magnesium (p=0.05), selenium (p=0.004), and silicium (p=0.004) were significantly lower in the horses with neurological disease. While levels of serum chromium (p=0.005) were higher, those of boron (p=0.002) were significantly lower in cases of EHV1 abortion. Overall, the present study revealed alterations in the serum levels of some trace elements between EHV-1 non-infected and infected horses, such as those that aborted or developed neurological signs. However, the relationship between the trace elements and the outcomes of the infection could not be established. Further research is needed to enlighten the effects of trace element alterations on the equine herpesvirus-1 infection pathogenesis in horses

Pegylated versus standard interferon-alpha in antiviral regimens for post-transplant recurrent hepatitis C: Comparison of tolerability and efficacy

BACKGROUND: In the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, regimens including pegylated interferon-alpha are superior to those including standard interferon; the present retrospective study was performed to verify whether the same is applicable to biopsy-proven recurrent hepatitis C (genotype 1b) after liver transplantation (OLT). METHODS: Twenty-four patients (16 male) were studied. Twelve had received interferon-alpha(2b) (IFN), 9 MU weekly and 12 received pegylated interferon-alpha(2b) (PEG-IFN), 0.5 microg/kg weekly. All had received oral ribavirin 600-800 mg/day. Treatment duration was intended for 12 months. A repeat liver biopsy, with evaluation of the Ishak grading and staging scores, was obtained at 1 year. RESULTS: Only 12/24 patients (50%) completed a full year of therapy; 17 (71%) experienced side-effects requiring a 50% dosage reduction or discontinuation of the IFN, PEG-IFN and/or ribavirin. This was observed in 6/12 patients (50%) treated with IFN in comparison to 11/12 patients (92%) treated with PEG-IFN (P < 0.05). The difference was mainly accounted for by anemia and leukopenia that were reported in 4/12 IFN patients (33%) versus 9/12 PEG-IFN patients (75%; P < 0.05), respectively. End-of-treatment viral response (ETVR) and histological response were always associated and occurred in 4/24 patients (17%), two in each treatment arm. Patients with ETVR were younger, had always completed 1 year of therapy, had had recurrent hepatitis later after transplantation and presented a higher baseline grading score. CONCLUSIONS: In the OLT setting, the potential benefits of antiviral treatments including PEG-IFN may be limited by the poor tolerability of the adopted drugs

Proteomic evaluation of sheep serum proteins

Abstract Background The applications of proteomic strategies to ovine medicine remain limited. The definition of serum proteome may be a good tool to identify useful protein biomarkers for recognising sub-clinical conditions and overt disease in sheep. Findings from bovine species are often directly translated for use in ovine medicine. In order to characterize normal protein patterns and improve knowledge of molecular species-specific characteristics, we generated a two-dimensional reference map of sheep serum. The possible application of this approach was tested by analysing serum protein patterns in ewes with mild broncho-pulmonary disease, which is very common in sheep and in the peripartum period which is a stressful time, with a high incidence of infectious and parasitic diseases. Results This study generated the first reference 2-DE maps of sheep serum. Overall, 250 protein spots were analyzed, and 138 identified. Compared with healthy sheep, serum protein profiles of animals with rhino-tracheo-bronchitis showed a significant decrease in protein spots identified as transthyretin, apolipoprotein A1 and a significant increase in spots identified as haptoglobin, endopin 1b and alpha1B glycoprotein. In the peripartum period, haptoglobin, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein, apolipoprotein A1 levels rose, while transthyretin content dropped. Conclusions This study describes applications of proteomics in putative biomarker discovery for early diagnosis as well as for monitoring the physiological and metabolic situations critical for ovine welfare.</p

Efficacy of intravenous cyclosporine in a case of cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis complicated by haemophagocytic syndrome after visceral leishmania infection

Cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis (CHP) is a rare panniculitis characterized by systemic features, due to histiocytic infiltration along with haemophagocytosis, which may also appear in bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes, and liver. Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a group of autoinflammatory disorders, which include macrophage activation syndrome, sometimes observed in the course of systemic autoimmune diseases, such as juvenile chronic polyarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus or vasculitis, and infection-associated haemophagocytic syndrome; if not promptly recognised and treated, HLH can be fatal. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a systemic disease caused by different forms of Leishmania spp., an intracellular protozoa. VL is endemic in tropical countries such as in the Middle East and the Mediterranean. The typical clinical and laboratory features are fever, hepato-splenomegaly, hypergammaglobulinaemia and pancytopenia. The features of VL may mimic some haematologic diseases. We report a case of cytophagic histiocytic panniculitis and HLH, triggered by a previous visceral leishmania infection. Cyclosporine was quickly effective in this case, after failure of high-dose glucocorticoids, anakinra and etoposide