Los recursos combustibles arqueológicos en Loma Alta : (Catamarca, Argentina)

El presente trabajo se basa en el estudio de los restos carbonizados producto de las combustiones que tuvieron lugar en el sitio arqueológico Loma Alta (Provincia de Catamarca, Argentina) y su variabilidad. Para ello se procede a la identificación de los taxones presentes entre los carbones depositados los estratos de dicho sitio, cuya antigüedad se estima en 1400 años AP en base a los resultados obtenidos sobre 7 muestras fechadas radiocarbónicamente (Scattolin, 2004). El material carbonizado fue preparado en laboratorio, examinándose las tres secciones diagnósticas en el Microscopio Electrónico de Barrido (MEB), Los fragmentos fueron identificados como procedentes de los géneros Bulnesia, Lycium, Larrea, Bougainvillea, Prosopis. Uno de los ejemplares corresponde a un espécimen de la familia Cactaceae. Los resultados se ponen en relación con la disponibilidad actual de recursos combustibles en las áreas vecinas al sitio, y su aprovechamiento por parte de los antiguos pobladores de Loma Alta.Fil: Calo, C. Marilin. Universidad de Buenos AiresFil: Rivera, Stella Marias. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y ForestalesFil: Scattolin, María Cristina. Universidad de Buenos Aire

Why are mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists cardioprotective?

Two clinical trials, the Randomized ALdosterone Evaluation Study (RALES) and the EPlerenone HEart failure and SUrvival Study (EPHESUS), have recently shown that mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonists reduce mortality in patients with heart failure on top of ACE inhibition. This effect could not be attributed solely to blockade of the renal MR-mediated effects on blood pressure, and it has therefore been proposed that aldosterone, the endogenous MR agonist, also acts extrarenally, in particular in the heart. Indeed, MR are present in cardiac tissue, and possibly aldosterone synthesis occurs in the heart. This review critically addresses the following questions: (1) is aldosterone synthesized at cardiac tissue sites, (2) what agonist stimulates cardiac MR normally, and (3) what effects are mediated by aldosterone/MR in the heart that could explain the beneficial effects of MR blockade in heart failure? Conclusions are that most, if not all, of cardiac aldosterone originates in the circulation (i.e., is of adrenal origin), and that glucocorticoids, in addition to aldosterone, may serve as the endogenous agonist of cardiac MR. MR-mediated effects in the heart include effects on endothelial function, cardiac fibrosis and hypertrophy, oxidative stress, cardiac inotropy, coronary flow, and arrhythmias. Some of these effects occur via or in synergy with angiotensin II, and involve a non-MR-mediated mechanism. This raises the possibility that aldosterone synthase inhibitors might exert beneficial effects on top of MR blockade

Fiorentino ville désertée, nel contesto della Capitanata medievale (ricerche 1982-1993)

International audienc

San Giacomo di Compostella e la Puglia. L’affresco del giovane pellegrino salvato dal Santo a Lizzano

In ambito iacobeo, il Libro II del Codice Callistino o Liber Sancti Iacobi contiene 22 miracoli compiuti da san Giacomo Maggiore o di Compostella, finalizzati a mostrare il potere del santo e in particolare la protezione dei pellegrini durante il viaggio dai pericoli della strada, dalle malattie, dalla malvagità degli osti. Tra i miracoli compiuti da san Giacomo il prodigio legato alla salvezza del giovane impiccato è sicuramente il più noto e diffuso, sia nei racconti sia nelle testimonianze iconografiche. Un’immagine del miracolo dell’impiccato è visibile in Puglia, a Lizzano, nel Tarantino, nella chiesa dell’Annunziata ˗ santuario mariano e meta di pellegrinaggio ˗ che accoglie un dipinto parietale raffigurante l’episodio del giovane pellegrino salvato da san Giacomo e sostenuto sulla forca.In the Jacobean context, Book II of the Callistine Code or Liber Sancti Iacobi contains 22 miracles performed by Saint James the Greater or of Compostella, aimed at showing the power of the saint and in particular the protection of pilgrims during the journey from the dangers of the road, from diseases , from the wickedness of the hosts. Among the miracles performed by Saint James, the miracle linked to the salvation of the hanged young man is certainly the best known and most widespread, both in stories and in iconographic evidence. An image of the miracle of the hanged man is visible in Puglia, in Lizzano, in the Tarantino area, in the church of the Annunziata ˗ Marian sanctuary and pilgrimage destination ˗ which houses a wall painting depicting the episode of the young pilgrim saved by Saint James and supported on the gallows

Structure-activity study at positions 3 and 4 of human neuropeptide S.

none11Neuropeptide S (NPS) has been identified as the endogenous ligand of a previously orphan receptor now named NPSR. Previous studies demonstrated that the N-terminal sequence Phe2-Arg3-Asn4 of the peptide is crucial for biological activity. Here, we report on a focused structure–activity study of Arg3 and Asn4 that have been replaced with a series of coded and non-coded amino acids. Thirty-eight human NPS analogues were synthesized and pharmacologically tested for intracellular calcium mobilization using HEK293 cells stably expressing the mouse NPSR. The results of this study demonstrated the following NPS position 3 structure–activity features: (i) the guanidine moiety and its basic character are not crucial requirements, (ii) an aliphatic amino acid with a linear three carbon atom long side chain is sufficient to bind and fully activate NPSR, (iii) the receptor pocket allocating the position 3 side chain can accommodate slightly larger side chains at least to a certain degree [hArg, Arg(NO2) or Arg(Me)2 but not Arg(Tos)]. Position 4 seems to be more sensitive to amino acids replacement compared to position 3; in fact, all the amino acid replacements investigated produced either an important decrease of biological activity or generated inactive derivatives suggesting a pivotal role of the Asn4 side chain for NPS bioactivity.mixedV. Camarda; C. Trapella; G. Calo’; R. Guerrini; A. Rizzi; C. Ruzza; S. Fiorini; E. Marzola; R. K. Reinscheid; D. Regoli; S. SalvadoriCamarda, Valeria; Trapella, Claudio; Calo', Girolamo; Guerrini, Remo; Rizzi, Anna; Ruzza, Chiara; Fiorini, Stella; Marzola, Erika; R. K., Reinscheid; Regoli, Domenico; Salvadori, Sever

Synthesis and biological activity of human neuropeptide S analogues modified in position 2

Neuropeptide S (NPS) has been identified as the endogenous ligand of a previously orphan receptor now named NPSR. Previous studies demonstrated that the N-terminal sequence Phe2-Arg3-Asn4 of the peptide is crucial for biological activity. Here we report on a focused structure-activity study of Phe2 which has been replaced with a series of coded and non coded amino acids. 31 human NPS analogs were synthesized and pharmacologically tested for intracellular calcium mobilization using HEK293 cells stably expressing the mouse NPSR. The results of this study demonstrated the following NPS position 2 structure-activity features: lipophilicity but not aromaticity is crucial; both the size of the chemical moiety and its distance from the peptide backbone are important for biological activity; this position plays a role in both receptor binding and activation, since [4,4\u2019- biphenyl-Ala2]hNPS behaved as a partial agonis

A neonatal cluster of novel coronavirus disease 2019: clinical management and considerations

Background: Lately, one of the major clinical and public health issues has been represented by Coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) during pregnancy and the risk of transmission of the infection from mother to child. Debate on perinatal management and postnatal care is still ongoing, principally questioning the option of the joint management of mother and child after birth and the safety of breastfeeding. According to the available reports, neonatal COVID-19 appears to have a horizontal transmission and seems to be paucisymptomatic or asymptomatic, compared to older age groups. The aim of this work is to describe a cluster of neonatal COVID-19 and discuss our experience, with reference to current evidence on postnatal care and perinatal management. Methods: This is a retrospective observational case series of five mother-child dyads, who attended the Labor and Delivery Unit of a first-level hospital in Italy, in March 2020. Descriptive statistics for continuous variables consisted of number of observations, mean and the range of the minimum and maximum values. Results: Five women and four neonates tested positive for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In one case, the mother-child dyad was separated and the neonate remained negative on two consecutive tests. Two positive neonates developed symptoms, with a predominant involvement of the gastrointestinal tract. Blood tests were unremarkable, except for a single patient who developed mild neutropenia. No complications occurred. Conclusions: We agree that the decision on whether or not to separate a positive/suspected mother from her child should be made on an individual basis, taking into account the parent’s will, clinical condition, hospital logistics and the local epidemiological situation. In conformity with literature, in our study, affected neonates were asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic. Despite these reassuring findings, a few cases of severe presentation in the neonatal population have been reported. Therefore, we agree on encouraging clinicians to monitor the neonates with a suspected or confirmed infection