Relationship between Muscle-Tendon Stiffness and Drop Jump Performance in Young Male Basketball Players during Developmental Stages

Background: The relationship between stiffness and drop jump performance in athletes in various stages of development has yet to be fully investigated. The first aim of this study was to investigate the association between the stiffness of the patellar and quadriceps tendon (PT, QT), gastrocnemius–Achilles tendon unit (GAT), and rectus femoris (RF) using drop jump (DJ) performance in young basketball players. The second aim was to investigate possible variations in the stiffness levels of those tissues in different developmental stages. Methods: The stiffness levels of the GAT, PT, QT, and RF were measured in both limbs in 73 male basketball players aged 12 to 18 years. The reactive strength index (RSI), contact time (CT) and jump height (JH) during 30 and 40 cm DJs were also measured. Results: Pearson correlation coefficients showed a significant association between DJ performance and PT, QT, GAT, and RF dynamic stiffness. Moreover, the youngest subjects were found to have lower stiffness values than the older ones. Conclusions: Tissue stiffness can affect athletic performance by modifying the stretch-shortening cycle in young basketball players. Stiffness of muscles and tendons increases during the maturation process. Further investigations could shed light on the effect of training on the stiffness of muscles and tendons

The chemopreventive retinoid 4HPR impairs prostate cancer cell migration and invasion by interfering with FAK/AKT/GSK3β pathway and β-catenin stability

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prostate cancer shows an extremely slow progression, appearing in its metastatic, hormone refractory phenotype mostly in elderly men. The chemopreventive targeting of this tumor could accordingly delay its malignancy over life expectancy. The cancer chemopreventive retinoid <it>N</it>-(4 hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4HPR) has already been shown to restrain prostate cancer growth in vitro and in vivo, though its mechanisms of action are only partially explained.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found that 4HPR impairs DU145 and PC3 prostate cancer cells migration and invasion by down-regulating FAK and AKT activation and by enhancing β-catenin degradation, causing the downregulation of target genes like cyclin D1, survivin and VEGF. This non-migratory phenotype was similarly produced in both cell lines by stable silencing of β-catenin. 4HPR was able to decrease AKT phosphorylation also when powerfully upregulated by IGF-1 and, consequently, to impair IGF-1-stimulated cell motility. Conversely, the expression of constitutively active AKT (myr-AKT) overcame the effects of 4HPR and β-catenin-silencing on cell migration. In addition, we found that BMP-2, a 4HPR target with antiangiogenic activity, decreased prostate cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion by down-regulating the pathway described involving AKT phosphorylation, β-catenin stability and cyclin D1 expression.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data point to 4HPR as a negative regulator of AKT phosphorylation, effectively targeting the β-catenin pathway and inducing a relatively benign phenotype in prostate cancer cells, limiting neoangiogenesis and cell invasion.</p

Prevalence of the microsporidian Nosema ceranae in honeybee (Apis mellifera) apiaries in Central Italy

Nosema ceranae and Nosema apis are microsporidia which play an important role in the epidemiology of honeybee microsporidiosis worldwide. Nosemiasis reduces honeybee population size and causes significant losses in honey production. To the best of our knowledge, limited information is available about the prevalence of nosemiasis in Italy. In this research, we determined the occurrence of Nosema infection in Central Italy. Thirty-eight seemingly healthy apiaries (2 to 4 hives each) were randomly selected and screened from April to September 2014 (n= 11) or from May to September 2015 (n= 27). The apiaries were located in six areas of Central Italy, including Lucca (n= 11), Massa Carrara (n= 9), Pisa (n= 9), Leghorn (n= 7), Florence (n= 1), and Prato (n= 1) provinces. Light microscopy was carried out according to current OIE recommendations to screen the presence of microsporidiosis in adult worker honeybees. Since the morphological characteristics of N. ceranae and N. apis spores are similar and can hardly be distinguished by optical microscopy, all samples were also screened by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR) assay based on 16S rRNA-gene-targeted species-specific primers to differentiate N. ceranae from N. apis. Furthermore, PCR-positive samples were also sequenced to confirm the species of amplified Nosema DNA. Notably, Nosema spores were detected in samples from 24 out of 38 (63.2%, 95% CI: 47.8–78.5%) apiaries. Positivity rates in single provinces were 10/11, 8/9, 3/9, 1/7, or 1/1 (n= 2). A full agreement (Cohen’s Kappa = 1) was assessed between microscopy and M-PCR. Based on M-PCR and DNA sequencing results, only N. ceranae was found. Overall, our results highlighted that N. ceranae infection occurs frequently in the cohort of honeybee populations that was examined despite the lack of clinical signs. These findings suggest that colony disease outbreaks might result from environmental factors that lead to higher susceptibility of honeybees to this microsporidian

Side-Chain Multifunctional Photoresponsive Polymeric Materials

The contribute reviews the recent literature concerning the state-of-the-art of the research on amorphous polymeric derivatives bearing side-chain photoactive moieties such as the azo-aromatic and the carbazole chromophore as functional groups, in addition to the presence of structural or chemical features suitable to also provide the macromolecules of chiral properties

Kaposi's Sarcoma and HIV-Tat: Challenges to Antiangiogenesis Research

Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) is characterized by an abnormal growth of blood vessels. KS was found mainly in older men of Mediterranean or African origin (classic KS) or in patients after organ transplantation (iatrogenic KS). However, in the early 1980s, an aggressive epidemic form, linked to AIDS, was noticed and was one of the first clues to the existence of HIV-1 pandemy. The link between KS occurrence and HIV has raised multiple hypotheses. The drastic reduction of KS after the introduction of HAART, suggests HIV as a powerful co-factor for KS progression. We and others have contributed to the elucidation of KS cell nature and the possible involvement of extracellular HIV Tat. Tat is proangiogenic and is a true promoter of KS lesions acting as a VEGFR2 ligand both on KS and endothelial cells, in addition Tat is able to bind and activate chemokine receptors on monocytes and granulocytes causing a pro-inflammatory status. Evaluation of the effects of extracellular Tat on KS cells by microarray analysis after 24 h of incubation shows an interesting clustering of gene products involved in signal transduction, especially GTP-ase, Kinase and cAMP activity, confirming that Tat acts extracellularly by ways that are probably unrelated to its nuclear activity. KS occurrence is reduced by HAART but still present and in Africa is one of the most frequent oncologic disease. To find suitable drugs with low toxic impact on KS patients, we have tested several drugs and gene therapy approaches in in vivo models. from 2005 International Meeting of The Institute of Human Virology Baltimore, USA, 29 August – 2 September 200

Who is polluting Italian honey? A filth test survey

Honey is largely considered a natural and healthy product. Investigation on foreign matter in honey provides useful information to evaluate honey quality standards in apiary, honey extraction and packaging phases. Indeed, toxic substances (antibiotics, pesticides and heavy metals) as well as foreign matter (e.g. arthropods, hairs) can contaminate honey, acting as allergens or vectors of human pathogens. We used the filth test to evaluate the presence of foreign matter in samples of Italian honeys, mainly from Tuscany. We revealed a high number of carbon particles and other inorganic fragments, followed by fragments of animal origin. This latter included whole small insects, their cuticular fragments, mites and mammal hairs. The kind of contamination allowed us to evidence uncorrected apicultural practices and to suggest the appropriate corrective measures. The filth test method is an excellent and cheap tool to check honey quality, requiring minimal instrumental equipment and giving results that can be interpreted quickly

Osteomielite crônica como uma armadilha ao diagnóstico na prática do dermatologista

In the clinical practice of Dermatology, it is not uncommon to encounter challenging situations that are difficult to characterize and may lead to misdiagnosis. Skin conditions with similar presentations are included here and, in this case, it is of utmost importance that the dermatologist combines information from the medical history,physical examination and complementary tests in order to exclude conditions with worse prognosis and that require more aggressive action than other benign conditions and/or with less negative impact.Na prática clínica da dermatologia não é incomum nos depararmos com situações desafiadoras, de difícil caracterização e que podem nos induzir ao erro diagnóstico. Quadros cutâneos com apresentações semelhantes entre si estão aqui inclusas e, neste caso, é de suma importância a atuação do médico dermatologista de forma a unir as informações da anamnese, exame físico e exames complementares, a fim de excluir condições de pior prognóstico e que requerem atuação mais agressiva de outras condições benignas e/ou com menor impacto negativo. Apresentamos abaixo uma dessas situações de desafio diagnóstico em que uma lesão cutânea secundária à osteomielite crônica foi inicialmente atribuída à causa inflamatória ou neoplásica

Lethal and sublethal effects of carlina oxide on Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) and Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

BACKGROUND: Tetranychus urticae Koch, is a polyphagous and damaging pest, presenting several resistant populations world- wide. Among new and more environmentally friendly control tools, botanical pesticides represent a valuable alternative to syn- thetic ones within integrated pest management strategies. Accordingly, we investigated the lethal and sublethal effects of carlina oxide isolated from Carlina acaulis (Asteraceae) roots on T. urticae and its natural enemy, the predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor). RESULTS: Carlina oxide (98.7% pure compound) was used for acaricidal tests on eggs, nymphs, and adult females of T. urticae (concentrations of 312.5, 625, 1250, 2500 and 5000 !L L!1), and eggs and females of N. californicus (1250 and 5000 !L L!1 on eggs and females, respectively). Behavioral two-choice tests were also conducted on phytoseiid females. Carlina oxide toxicity was higher on T. urticae females than nymphs (median lethal dose 1145 and 1825 !L L!1, respectively), whereas egg mortality and mean hatching time were signi!cantly affected by all tested concentrations. A decreasing daily oviposition rate for T. urticae was recorded with concentrations ranging from 625 to 5000 !L L!1, whereas negative effects on the population growth rate were recorded only with the three higher concentrations (1250, 2500 and 5000 !L L!1). No toxic effect on N. californicus females was found, but a strong repellent activity lasting for 48 h from application was recorded. CONCLUSION: Carlina oxide reduced longevity and fecundity of T. urticae adults, but not of N. californicus. This selective prop- erty allows us to propose it as a novel active ingredient of ecofriendly acaricides for T. urticae management