Mapping socials

The paper concerns a study developed on the largest enclosed park in Europe, in the town of Monza, perceived and returned in a series of icon-maps through the use of social twitter and instagram in a specific time frame. The aim is to investigate the contribution provided by social data through mobile phone network considered as a tool to describe a temporary event, and to describe the shape of a town that does not physically exist but can be drowned always in a different way depending on several variable data

The negative effects of bile acids and tumor necrosis factor-alpha on the transcription of cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase gene (CYP7A1) converge to hepatic nuclear factor-4: a novel mechanism of feedback regulation of bile acid synthesis mediated by nuclear receptors.

Bile acids regulate the cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase gene (CYP7A1), which encodes the rate-limiting enzyme in the classical pathway of bile acid synthesis. Here we report a novel mechanism whereby bile acid feedback regulates CYP7A1 transcription through the nuclear receptor hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 (HNF-4), which binds to the bile acid response element (BARE) at nt -149/-118 relative to the transcription start site. Using transient transfection assays of HepG2 cells with Gal4-HNF-4 fusion proteins, we show that chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) dampened the transactivation potential of HNF-4. Overexpression of a constitutive active form of MEKK1, an upstream mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) module triggered by stress signals, strongly repressed the promoter activity of CYP7A1 via the consensus sequence for HNF-4 embedded in the BARE. Similarly, MEKK1 inhibited the activity of HNF-4 in the Gal4-based assay. The involvement of the MEKK1-dependent pathway in the bile acid-mediated repression of CYP7A1 was confirmed by co-transfecting a dominant negative form of the stress-activated protein kinase kinase, SEK, which abolished the effect of CDCA upon CYP7A1 transcription. Treatment of transfected HepG2 cells with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), an activator of the MEKK1 pathway, led to the repression of CYP7A1 via the HNF-4 site in the BARE. TNF-alpha also inhibited the transactivation potential of HNF-4. Collectively, our results demonstrate for the first time that HNF-4, in combination with a MAPK signaling pathway, acts as a bile acid sensor in the liver. Furthermore, the effects of CDCA and TNF-alpha converge to HNF-4, which binds to the BARE of CYP7A1, suggesting a link between the cascades elicited by bile acids and pro-inflammatory stimuli in the liver

High efficiency microfabricated planar columns for analysis of real-world samples of essential oils and plant volatile fraction

Compact and miniaturized instrumentation has obvious benefits in terms of energy consumption, materials, and laboratory space and, at the same time offers the possibility of “in-field” applications. In view of a possible application of on-chip GC for the analyses of essential oils in-situ with the industrial production and the volatile fraction emitted from plants, this study evaluates the performance of a set of planar columns developed to analyze complex mixtures. In a previous study, the performances of 2-m planar columns statically coated with apolar (Sil5%-PH), polar (FFAP-EXT), and chiral (Et-β-CD) stationary phases were tested. The results were comparable to those of reference conventional NB columns, efficiency achieving a number of theoretical plates per meter (N/m) ranging from 5700 for Et-β-CD to 7200 for Sil5%-PH [1]. Plant and food volatile fractions are characterized by high complexity and usually consist of components within a widely extended range of volatility and polarity. A reliable chemical analysis, therefore, requires columns with a high separation power. One of the ways to deal with this issue successfully is to increase column length while keeping high efficiency and selectivity. A set of 5-m planar columns (60 x 80 µm; nominal dc 0.71 µm) coated with the same stationary phases as in the previous study was therefore developed. Column performances were tested by analyzing essential oils (peppermint, lavender, chamomile, rosemary, tea tree, and bergamot) and headspace of the same aromatic plants, as well as standard mixtures of related compounds. The results were compared to those obtained with the 2-m planar columns of the previous study taken as reference. The 5-m planar columns provide separations of the components of the investigated samples fully overlapping on the corresponding conventional NB column. Their chromatographic performances were highly satisfactory achieving efficiency higher than the previous ones with N/m reaching 9300 for the FFAP-EXT planar column, and significantly increasing the retention of highly volatile compounds, thereby providing a drastic increase of their separation power (i.e. peak capacity). These results show that 5-m planar columns can provide performances that make them able to satisfy all requirements for a reliable analysis of complex samples such as essential oils and plant volatile fractions

In Vitro Effects of Strontium on Proliferation and Osteoinduction of Human Preadipocytes.

Development of tools to be used for in vivo bone tissue regeneration focuses on cellular models and differentiation processes. In searching for all the optimal sources, adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hADSCs or preadipocytes) are able to differentiate into osteoblasts with analogous characteristics to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, producing alkaline phosphatase (ALP), collagen, osteocalcin, and calcified nodules, mainly composed of hydroxyapatite (HA). The possibility to influence bone differentiation of stem cells encompasses local and systemic methods, including the use of drugs administered systemically. Among the latter, strontium ranelate (SR) represents an interesting compound, acting as an uncoupling factor that stimulates bone formation and inhibits bone resorption. The aim of our study was to evaluate the in vitro effects of a wide range of strontium (Sr2+) concentrations on proliferation, ALP activity, and mineralization of a novel finite clonal hADSCs cell line, named PA20-h5. Sr2+ promoted PA20-h5 cell proliferation while inducing the increase of ALP activity and gene expression as well as HA production during in vitro osteoinduction. These findings indicate a role for Sr2+ in supporting bone regeneration during the process of skeletal repair in general, and, more specifically, when cell therapies are applied

A pilot study of brisk walking in sedentary combination antiretroviral treatment (cART)- treated patients: benefit on soluble and cell inflammatory markers

Background: Chronic HIV infection is associated with low-level inflammation and increased risk of chronic diseases and mortality. The objective was to assess the effects of moderate intensity exercise on metabolic and inflammatory markers in HIV-infected treated persons. Methods: This was a pilot study enrolling cART-treated, sedentary persons with metabolic complications in a 12-week protocol, consisting of three sessions per week of 60 min brisk walking with (strength-walk group) or without (walk group) 30 min circuit-training. Assessments at baseline and week 12 (W12) included body morphometrics and total body dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; lipid and glucose blood profile; plasma level of high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), D-dimer, interleukin-18 (IL-18), soluble CD14, and CD38 and HLA-DR expression on CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. Results: Forty-nine patients were included and 35 (71%) completed the program: 21 in the walk and 14 in the strength-walk group. At W12, significant improvements were observed of body mass index, waist and hip circumference, and total cholesterol both overall and in the walk group, and of LDL cholesterol in both training groups. In the whole group, significant reductions were observed in hsCRP, IL-6, D-dimer, IL-18, and of CD8 +/CD38+/HLA-DR+ cell frequencies. HsCRP and CD8+/CD38+/HLA-DR+ frequency decreased significantly in both training groups when examined separately whereas IL-6 and D-dimer in the walk group only. Conclusions: Brisk walking, with or without strength exercise, could improve lipid profile and inflammatory markers in chronic HIV infection

Activation and nuclear translocation of PKCε promotes skeletal muscle cell differentiation via HMGA1 downregulation

The role of novel PKCs in skeletal muscle differentiation has recently emerged. PKCθ is the most expressed isoform of PKCs in muscle and it promotes the fusion of myoblasts [1]. Recently, we have demonstrated that PKCε is implicated in myocardiocyte differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells [2] but the role of PKCε in skeletal muscle cell regeneration has only recently emerged [3]. We here demonstrate that both nuclear and cytoplasmic fractions of PKCε are up-regulated during in vitro C2C12 cell line and satellite cell differentiation. We also show that PKCε is able to modulate myogenic differentiation genes via a downmodulation of HMGA1 proteins that promotes myogenin accumulation and mature myoblast formation. To study the effects of PKCε on muscle regeneration, we have used the in vivo model of CTX-induced skeletal muscle injury. We show that the upregulation of PKCε also occurs in vivo, particularly in the centro-nucleated regenerating fibers that are derived from the fusion process of the resident satellite cells, suggesting a role for PKCε in human satellite cell-driven muscle repair and substitution, with clinically relevant implications in human muscle pathology

Correlation between Protein Kinase Cε expression and thrombotic risk in Primary Myelofibrosis (PMFs)

Myelofibrosis (MF) - either primary (PMF) or arising from a previous PV or ET - is a Philadelphia-negative MPNs characterized by aberrant platelet production and consequent variable platelet count with altered hemostatic function (1). It has already been demonstrated that the risk of thrombotic events is one of the most common co-morbidities associated with PV and ET (2-5). However, risk of thrombotic events in PMF has not been investigated yet. We previously demonstrated that PKCepsilon (PKCε) is over-expressed in platelets from patients with acute myocardial infarction and accounts for their increased reactivity (6). Additionally, we recently showed that PKCε overexpression plays a crucial role in PMF MK impaired differentiation and that its levels correlated with the disease severity (expressed by the IPSS/DIPPS risk category) (7,8). On these bases, we analyzed PKCε expression in platelets from PMF patients, investigating a potential correlation with thrombotic risk and the aggressiveness of the disease. For this study, peripheral blood samples from 6 PMF patients and 3 healthy donors (HD) were collected in Na-citrate tubes. PKCε mRNA and protein levels were determined in platelets purified as described by Carubbi C, 2012. Finally, patients are stratified according to the history of cardio-vascular events and the IPSS/DIPSS risk category. PMF platelets showed significantly higher mRNA levels of PKCε as compared to HD. Protein analysis confirm PKCε over-expression in PMF platelets, almost reaching statistical significance. We then found that platelet from PMF patients who suffered from cardiovascular events display significantly higher levels of PKCε as compared to the one with a negative history. Finally, similarly to what observed in PMF magakaryocytes, we showed a positive correlation between PKCε platelets levels and IPSS/DIPSS risk category, with the lowest levels in low-risk patients and higher levels in high-risk patients. Collectively, our preliminary results indicate that PMF platelets show an aberrant expression of PKCε which correlates with the disease burden and a history of cardiovascular events. This suggests that the over-expression of PKCε may account for PMF platelet altered reactivity and function