La vegetazione dell\u2019istituenda Riserva Naturale \u201cOasi di Lacchiarella\u201d (Parco Agricolo Sud Milano).

\uc8 stata studiata dal punto di vista fitosociologico la vegetazione della Riserva naturale Oasi di Lacchiarella. Sono state individuate 34 cenosi vegetali, ascrivibili a 12 classi fitosociologiche: Lemnetea, Potametea, Phragmiti-Magnocaricetea, Bidentetea tripartiti, Stellarietea mediae, Oryzetea sativae, Molinio- Arrhenatheretea,Galio-Urticetea, Alnetea glutinosae, Salicetea purpureae, Rhamno-Prunetea e Querco-Fagetea. Il grado di naturalit\ue0 e il valore floristico-vegetazionale \ue8 nel complesso basso, anche nelle formazioni boschive. Le cenosi si dispongono secondo un gradiente ecologico di umidit\ue0, caratterizzato da un progressivo svincolamento dalla falda. Le cenosi di piante infestanti o ruderali seguono una propria linea dinamico-evolutiva, pressoch\ue9 indipendente da quella di interramento dei corsi d\u2019acqua; entrambe comunque convergono verso le formazioni boschive

The Interplay between TRPM7 and MagT1 in Maintaining Endothelial Magnesium Homeostasis

The transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 7 (TRPM7) is an ubiquitous channel fused to an α-kinase domain involved in magnesium (Mg) transport, and its level of expression has been proposed as a marker of endothelial function. To broaden our present knowledge about the role of TRPM7 in endothelial cells, we generated stable transfected Human Endothelial Cells derived from the Umbilical Vein (HUVEC). TRPM7-silencing HUVEC maintain the actin fibers’ organization and mitochondrial network. They produce reduced amounts of reactive oxygen species and grow faster than controls. Intracellular Mg concentration does not change in TRPM7-silencing or -expressing HUVEC, while some differences emerged when we analyzed intracellular Mg distribution. While the levels of the plasma membrane Mg transporter Solute Carrier family 41 member 1 (SLC41A1) and the mitochondrial channel Mrs2 remain unchanged, the highly selective Magnesium Transporter 1 (MagT1) is upregulated in TRPM7-silencing HUVEC through transcriptional regulation. We propose that the increased amounts of MagT1 grant the maintenance of intracellular Mg concentrations when TRPM7 is not expressed in endothelial cells

Cysteinyl Leukotrienes as Potential Pharmacological Targets for Cerebral Diseases

Cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) are potent lipid mediators widely known for their actions in asthma and in allergic rhinitis. Accumulating data highlights their involvement in a broader range of inflammation-associated diseases such as cancer, atopic dermatitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and cardiovascular diseases. The reported elevated levels of CysLTs in acute and chronic brain lesions, the association between the genetic polymorphisms in the LTs biosynthesis pathways and the risk of cerebral pathological events, and the evidence from animal models link also CysLTs and brain diseases. This review will give an overview of how far research has gone into the evaluation of the role of CysLTs in the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders (ischemia, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, multiple sclerosis/experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, and epilepsy) in order to understand the underlying mechanism by which they might be central in the disease progression

Theranostic application of miR-429 in HER2+ breast cancer

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed/amplified in one third of breast cancers (BCs), and is associated with the poorer prognosis and the higher metastatic potential in BC. Emerging evidences highlight the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of several cellular processes, including BC. Methods: Here we identified, by in silico approach, a group of three miRNAs with central biological role (high degree centrality) in HER2+ BC. We validated their dysregulation in HER2+ BC and we analysed their functional role by in vitro approaches on selected cell lines and by in vivo experiments in an animal model. Results: We found that their expression is dysregulated in both HER2+ BC cell lines and human samples. Focusing our study on the only upregulated miRNA, miR-429, we discovered that it acts as an oncogene and its upregulation is required for HER2+ cell proliferation. It controls the metastatic potential of HER2+ BC subtype by regulating migration and invasion of the cell. Conclusions: In HER2+ BC oncogenic miR-429 is able to regulate HIF1\u3b1 pathway by directly targeting VHL mRNA, a molecule important for the degradation of HIF1\u3b1. The overexpression of miR-429, observed in HER2+ BC, causes increased proliferation and migration of the BC cells. More important, silencing miR-429 succeeds in delaying tumor growth, thus miR-429 could be proposed as a therapeutic probe in HER2+ BC tumors

Study of suitability of Fricke-gel-layer dosimeters for in-air measurements to characterize epithermal/thermal neutron beams for NCT

The reliability of Fricke gel dosimeters in form of layers for measurements aimed at the characterization of epithermal neutron beams has been studied. By means of dosimeters of different isotopic composition (standard, containing 10B or prepared with heavy water) placed against the collimator exit, the spatial distribution of gamma and fast neutron doses and of thermal neutron fluence are attained. In order to investigate the accuracy of the results obtained with in-air measurements, suitable MC simulations have been developed and experimental measurements have been performed utilizing Fricke gel dosimeters, thermoluminescence detectors and activation foils. The studies were related to the epithermal beam designed for BNCT irradiations at the research reactor LVR-15 (Řež). The results of calculation and measurements have revealed good consistency of gamma dose and fast neutron 2D distributions obtained with gel dosimeters in form of layers. In contrast, noticeable modification of thermal neutron fluence is caused by the neutron moderation produced by the dosimeter material. Fricke gel dosimeters in thin cylinders, with diameter not greater than 3 mm, have proved to give good results for thermal neutron profiling. For greater accuracy of all results, a better knowledge of the dependence of gel dosimeter sensitivity on radiation LET is needed