Catalytic fuel cell used as an analytical tool for methanol and ethanol determination. Application to ethanol determination in alcoholic beverages

A small direct catalytic methanol 'fuel cell' was used for analytical purposes. Three different formats were investigated for methanol and ethanol determination: two different Open Circuit Voltage (OCV) formats and a potentiostatic (i.e. amperometric) format; the latter was used if the current supplied by the cell was recorded. The measurement times using one or other of these three formats were much different. The time required by the potentiostatic format was more short for a suitable analytical measurement. The cell was used to check ethanol content in several commercial wine and beer samples and the possibility of using the fuel cell for the analytical measures in real samples, discussed. Lastly the results were compared with those obtained using two conventional amperometric enzyme sensors and statistical tests carried out. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Comparison between a direct-flow SPR immunosensor for ampicillin and a competitive conventional amperometric device: analytical features and possible applications to real samples

In this research, we developed a direct-flow surface plasmon resonance (SPR) immunosensor for ampicillin to perform direct, simple, and fast measurements of this important antibiotic. In order to better evaluate the performance, it was compared with a conventional amperometric immunosensor, working with a competitive format with the aim of finding out experimental real advantages and disadvantages of two respective methods. Results showed that certain analytical features of the new SPR immunodevice, such as the lower limit of detection (LOD) value and the width of the linear range, are poorer than those of a conventional amperometric immunosensor, which adversely affects the application to samples such as natural waters. On the other hand, the SPR immunosensor was more selective to ampicillin, and measurements were more easily and quickly attained compared to those performed with the conventional competitive immunosensor

The Multiple Roles of CD147 in the Development and Progression of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Overview

Cluster of differentiation (CD)147, also termed extracellular matrix metalloprotease inducer or basigin, is a glycoprotein ubiquitously expressed throughout the human body, the oral cavity included. CD147 actively participates in physiological tissue development or growth and has important roles in reactive processes such as inflammation, immunity, and tissue repair. It is worth noting that deregulated expression and/or activity of CD147 is observed in chronic inflammatory or degenerative diseases, as well as in neoplasms. Among the latter, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is characterized by an upregulation of CD147 in both the neoplastic and normal cells constituting the tumor mass. Most interestingly, the expression and/or activity of CD147 gradually increase as healthy oral mucosa becomes inflamed; hyperplastic/dysplastic lesions are then set on, and, eventually, OSCC develops. Based on these findings, here we summarize published studies which evaluate whether CD147 could be employed as a marker to monitor OSCC development and progression. Moreover, we describe CD147-promoted cellular and molecular events which are relevant to oral carcinogenesis, with the aim to provide useful information for assessing whether CD147 may be the target of novel therapeutic approaches directed against OSCC

Interactions between Three Fungi Associated with Esca of Grapevine, and Their Secondary Metabolites

The effect of the culture filtrates, crude organic extracts of culture filtrates, metabolites such as scytalone, pullulan and oligosaccharides produced by three fungi associated with esca, Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (Pch), Phaeoacremonium aleophilum (Pal) and Fomitiporia punctata (Fop), on the growth of the fungi themselves, was studied in vitro. At 1:1 dilution, the culture filtrates of Pal and Pch inhibited Fop completely, whereas at 1:2 dilution they only increased Fop growth latency. Fop was not inhibited by crude organic extracts of Pal or Pch. Growth of Pal was slightly stimulated at the lowest concentrations of Pch crude extracts, whereas it was inhibited at the highest concentration. Scytalone (at 1 mg ml-1), pullulan (at 0.2 mg ml-1) and oligosaccharides up to 2.5 kDa (2 mg ml-1) did not affect the radial growth of Fop

The value of immunohistochemical research on PCNA, p53 and heat shock proteins in prostate cancer management: a review.

This review addresses the significance of the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), p53 and some heat shock proteins (Hsps) in prostate carcinoma (PC). In fact, PCNA and p53 are two widely discussed tools in PC diagno- sis, mainly because of the controversy regarding the signifi- cance of their expression during prostate cancer development and progression. At the same time, only few studies have shown the potential role of Hsps in carcinogenesis and their overexpression in pre-neoplastic and neoplastic lesions of the prostate. We briefly describe the physiological roles of Hsps in normal cells, and the significance of their immunohistochem- ical detection in PC as well as in pre-cancerous lesions of the prostate. We will also discuss the possible functional interac- tions of these molecules in both dysplastic and neoplastic cell

DNA Damage Response Gene Signature as Potential Treatment Markers for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a rapidly progressive cancer that often develops resistance against DNA damage inducers, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which are still the standard of care regimens for this tumor. Thus, the identification of biomarkers capable of monitoring the clinical progression of OSCC and its responsiveness to therapy is strongly required. To meet this need, here we have employed Whole Genome Sequencing and RNA-seq data from a cohort of 316 patients retrieved from the TCGA Pan-Cancer Atlas to analyze the genomic and transcriptomic status of the DNA damage response (DDR) genes in OSCC. Then, we correlated the transcriptomic data with the clinical parameters of each patient. Finally, we relied on transcriptomic and drug sensitivity data from the CTRP v2 portal, performing Pearson's correlation analysis to identify putative vulnerabilities of OSCC cell lines correlated with DDR gene expression. Our results indicate that several DDR genes show a high frequency of genomic and transcriptomic alterations and that the expression of some of them correlates with OSCC grading and infection by the human papilloma virus. In addition, we have identified a signature of eight DDR genes (namely CCNB1, CCNB2, CDK2, CDK4, CHECK1, E2F1, FANCD2, and PRKDC) that could be predictive for OSCC response to the novel antitumor compounds sorafenib and tipifarnib-P1. Altogether, our data demonstrate that alterations in DDR genes could have an impact on the biology of OSCC. Moreover, here we propose a DDR gene signature whose expression could be predictive of OSCC responsiveness to therapy

Interaction between Esca-Associated Fungi, Grapevine Calli and Micropropagated Shoot Cultures of Grapevine

Callus of the grapevine cv. Italia, micropropagated shoot cultures of the cv. Italia, Matilde and Sangiovese and callus of the tobacco cv. White Burley were cultivated on modified LS and MS-media. Phaeomoniella chlamydospora (Pch), Phaeoacremonium aleophilum (Pal) and Fomitiporia punctata (Fop) grew well in the presence of calli and vitroplants of all the grapevine cultivars which stimulated the growth of the fungi, but growth of the calli and vitroplants was reduced. All three fungi inhibited callus growth more strongly in grapevine than in tobacco. Fop had the greatest inhibitory effect on grapevine callus. Symptom severity also differed between cultivars. All three fungi invaded callus tissue after entirely overgrowing its surface. Hyphae were observed within the callus mass, where several cellular aggregates showed melanin-like deposits, particularly when invaded by Pal. On the foliar lamina of vitroplants symptoms were produced before and after the invasion of the plantlets by each fungus. Symptoms consisted in light green or chlorotic, rounded or irregular spots between the veins or along the leaf margin. The combination Pal vs. vitroplant gave the fastest host-pathogen response. The susceptibility or resistance of calli or vitroplants to escaassociated fungi could be a means to select grapevine for resistance to these fungi

Different consecutive training protocols to design an intervention program for overweight youth: a controlled study

Objective: To find the optimal exercise program to be recommended in reducing adiposity and promoting long-term physical activity adherence in a sample of overweight adolescents. Methods: Forty-five overweight adolescents were randomly divided into three exercise groups, to perform two phases of physical activity as follows: in the first phase, the first group performed a 16-week moderate-intensity resistance training (RT), the second group performed a 16-week high-intensity RT, and the third group performed a 16-week aerobic training (AT); in the second phase, all groups performed a 6-week AT. Anthropometric body composition and fitness measures were considered as outcome measures. Results: After the second protocol, both RT groups showed a significant improvement in percentage of fat mass (F2,76= 5.843; p = 0.004; η2= 0.133) and free fat mass (F2,76= 6.254; p = 0.003; η2= 0.141), and in fitness tests (p < 0.01). The VO2max values of the RT groups were significantly higher than those of the AT group (F2,38= 4.264; p = 0.021; η2= 0.183). The rate of adherence to exercise was an average of 94% in both RT groups, whereas in the AT group, it was 83%. During the 12-week post-intervention follow-up, the number of participants who continued to perform physical activities was significantly higher in both the RT groups than in the AT group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The present study provides preliminary evidence that moderate-to-intense RT, followed by AT, can be an effective treatment for overweight adolescents, and the positive effects are maintained even after 12 weeks of follow-up