Molecular Imprinted Polymers Coupled to Photonic Structures in Biosensors: The State of Art

Optical sensing, taking advantage of the variety of available optical structures, is a rapidly expanding area. Over recent years, whispering gallery mode resonators, photonic crystals, optical waveguides, optical fibers and surface plasmon resonance have been exploited to devise different optical sensing configurations. In the present review, we report on the state of the art of optical sensing devices based on the aforementioned optical structures and on synthetic receptors prepared by means of the molecular imprinting technology. Molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) are polymeric receptors, cheap and robust, with high affinity and selectivity, prepared by a template assisted synthesis. The state of the art of the MIP functionalized optical structures is critically discussed, highlighting the key progresses that enabled the achievement of improved sensing performances, the merits and the limits both in MIP synthetic strategies and in MIP coupling

Intellectual Capital Disclosure: Some Evidence from Healthy and Distressed Banks in Italy

The article investigates the intellectual capital disclosure of Italian banks over the years 2016–2017, applying the specific lens of healthy and distressed banks. To this end, we used content analysis and encoding techniques. The main results point out that intellectual capital (IC) disclosure is generally poor and that the intensity of disclosure varies slightly between healthy and distressed banks. Regarding the quality of disclosure, healthy banks present a higher, albeit modest, tendency to disclose non-qualitative and forward-looking information, maybe due to the fact that they are more focused on the strategies and the relationships with stakeholders as opposed to a more short-term approach of the distressed banks. To complement our study on healthy and distressed banks, we repeated the analysis focusing on bank size and independent directors. In this case, results do not show relevant differences in terms of IC disclosure. Hence, our findings suggest the need to consider banks’ IC disclosure as a strategic asset for increasing, among others, transparency and reputation

The generally covariant meaning of space distances

We propose a covariant and geometric framework to introduce space distances as they are used by astronomers. In particular, we extend the definition of space distances from the one used between events to non-test-bodies with horizons and singularities so that the definition extends through the horizons and it matches the protocol used to measure them. The definition we propose can be used in standard General Relativity although it extends directly to Weyl geometries to encompass a number of modified theories, extended theories in particular.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Reactive oxygen species and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 mediate hexachlorobenzene-induced cell death in FRTL-5 rat throyd cells

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is an organochlorine pesticide widely distributed in the environment. We have previously shown that chronic HCB exposure triggers apoptosis in rat thyroid follicular cells. This study was carried out to investigate the molecular mechanism by which the pesticide causes apoptosis in FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells exposed to HCB (0.005, 0.05, 0.5, and 5μM) for 2, 6, 8, 24, and 48 h. HCB treatment lowered cell viability and induced apoptotic cell death in a dose- and time-dependent manner, as demonstrated by morphological nuclear changes and the increase of DNA fragmentation. The pesticide increased activation of caspases- 3, -8, and full-length caspase-10 processing. HCB induced mitochondrial membrane depolarization, release of cytochrome c and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), from the mitochondria to the cytosol, and AIF nuclear translocation. Cell death was accompanied by an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Blocking of ROS production, with a radical scavenger (Trolox), resulted in inhibition of AIF nuclear translocation and returned cells survival to control levels, demonstrating that ROS are critical mediators of HCB-induced apoptosis. The pesticide increased ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 phosphorylation in a timeand dose-dependent manner. However, when FRTL-5 cells were treated with specific MAPK inhibitors, only blockade of MEK1/2 with PD98059 prevented cell loss of viability, as well as caspase-3 activation. In addition, we demonstrated that HCB-induced production of ROS has a critical role in ERK1/2 activation. These results demonstrate for the first time that HCB induces apoptosis in FRTL-5 cells, by ROS-mediated ERK1/2 activation, through caspase-dependent and -independent pathways.Fil: Chiappini, Florencia Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; Argentina;Fil: Pontillo, Carolina Andrea. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; Argentina;Fil: Randi, Andrea Silvana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; Argentina;Fil: Alvarez, Laura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; Argentina;Fil: Kleiman, Diana Leonor. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; Argentina

Innovative Micro- and Nanostructured Materials and Devices for Energy Applications

1 Dipartimento di Ingegneria Elettrica e dell'Informazione (DEI), Politecnico di Bari, Via E. Orabona 4, 70125 Bari, Italy 2 Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche-Istituto di Fotonica e Nanotecnologie (CNRIFN), Via alla Cascata 56/C, 38123 Trento, Italy 3 Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Center for Biomolecular Nanotechnologies (CBN), Via Barsanti 1, 73010 Arnesano, Italy 4Department of Physics and Meteorology, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur 721302, Indi

Fabrication of conductive micro electrodes in diamond bulk using pulsed Bessel beams

High-quality, in-bulk conductive graphitic microelectrodes are fabricated perpendicular to the surface of a 500 μm thick monocrystalline CVD diamond sample using pulsed Bessel beams. With a 12o cone angle beam, different pulse parameters are explored to optimize the graphitic wires which are written without sample translation. The quality of the electrodes and their electrical and structural properties have been analysed through currentvoltage characterization and micro-Raman spectroscopy. We have found that higher pulse duration favours better conductivity while pulse energy has an optimum value for the same. This trend is confirmed by the presence and the different amounts of graphitic-like sp2 bonded carbon revealed by the micro-Raman spectra in different configurations. Using suitable writing parameters, we are able to create electrodes with the resistivity of 0.04 Ω cm, which, to the best of our knowledge, is one of the lowest values ever reported in literature in the case of graphitic-like wires fabricated through laser micromachining

Hexachlorobenzene triggers apoptosis in rat thyroid follicular cells

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is a widespread environmental pollutant. Chronic exposure of humans to HCB produces a number of effects, such as triggering of porphyria, increased synthesis of liver microsomal enzymes, neurological symptoms, immunological disorders and thyroid dysfunctions. In rats HCB induced hepatic porphyria, neurotoxic effects and toxic effects on the reproductive system, thyroid function and immune system. HCB is also known to cause tumors of the liver, thyroid and mammary gland in laboratory animals. The aim of this study was to investigate parameters of thyroid growth regulation, mainly cell proliferation and apoptosis in thyroid tissue from HCB (0.1, 1, 10, 100, and 500 mg/kg body weight)-treated female Wistar rats. The current study demonstrates that only the exposure to the highest HCB dose for 30 days, has adverse effects on thyroid endpoints examined related to thyroid gland morphology, and 3,3´,5,5´-tetraiodothyronine (T(4,) thyroxine) serum levels, without changes in TSH concentrations or in thyroid gland weight. Morphological changes, included flattened epithelium and increased colloid size compared with control tissue. Transforming growth factor (TGF-beta1) mRNA levels, evaluated by RT-PCR, revealed a significant upregulation after exposure to HCB (1, 10, 100 mg/kg body weight). Cell proliferation evaluated by 5´-Br deoxiuridine (BrdU) incorporation into DNA, was not altered at any dose. HCB (1, 10, 100 mg/kg body weight) induces apoptosis, evaluated by in situ end-labeling of fragmented DNA, TUNEL, in rat thyroid glands. This process is associated with dose-dependent increases in cytochrome c release from the mitochondria and procaspase-9 processing to its active product. Caspase-8 was not activated. These studies indicate that doses of HCB that do not disrupt thyroid economy induce TGF-beta1 expression and apoptosis in the thyroid gland, involving the mitochondrial pathway.Fil: Chiappini, Florencia Ana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, Laura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Lux, Victoria Adela R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Randi, Andrea Silvana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Kleiman, Diana Leonor. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Brexpiprazole as a new approach of treatment in somatization disorder

© 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for the Study of Emerging Drugs. This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)Introduction: Somatic symptom disorder (SSD) is a mental disorder that involves one or more physical symptoms (e.g. palpitations, dizziness, diarrhoea, limb weakness, pain, and pseudo neurological symptoms) accompanied by one or more thoughts, feelings, and/or behaviours related to the somatic symptom(s) resulting in significant distress and/or dysfunction lasting for more than 6 months. At now the SSD can be refractory to psychiatric intervention including antidepressants, antiepileptics, and antipsychotics as well as the effectiveness of many of these treatments is limited. The objective of this study was to report the effectiveness of a third-generation antipsychotic drug brexpiprazole for treatment of a case of SSD together with the serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) fluvoxamine. Methods: A single case study of a 59-year-old female with SSD was here performed. Findings: After 4 weeks of treatment brexpiprazole, together with lamotrigine and fluvoxamine, was here effective in decreasing both depressive and anxiety symptoms, normalising previous unusual thought contents and of related behaviours. The patient reported an overall good response and started to function again in important domains of life. No adverse events occurred. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first case showing Brexpiprazole effective for the treatment of a case of SSD as add-on to other drugs.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Hexachlorobenzene promotes angiogenesis in vivo, in a breast cancer model and neovasculogenesis in vitro, in the human microvascular endothelial cell line HMEC-1

Exposure to environmental pollutants may alter proangiogenic ability and promotes tumor growth. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is an organochlorine pesticide found in maternal milk and in lipid foods, and a weak ligand of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). HCB induces migration and invasion in human breast cancer cells, as well as tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. In this study, we examined HCB action on angiogenesis in mammary carcinogenesis. HCB stimulates angiogenesis and increases vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in a xenograft model with the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. Human microvascular endothelial cells HMEC-1 exposed to HCB (0.005, 0.05, 0.5 and 5 μM) showed an increase in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and VEGF protein expression involving AhR. In addition, we found that HCB enhances VEGF-Receptor 2 (VEGFR2) expression, and activates its downstream pathways p38 and ERK1/2. HCB induces cell migration and neovasculogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. Cells pretreatment with AhR, COX-2 and VEGFR2 selective inhibitors, suppressed these effects. In conclusion, our results show that HCB promotes angiogenesis in vivo and in vitro. HCB-induced cell migration and tubulogenesis are mediated by AhR, COX-2 and VEGFR2 in HMEC-1. These findings may help to understand the association among HCB exposure, angiogenesis and mammary carcinogenesis.Fil: Pontillo, Carolina Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; ArgentinaFil: Español, Alejandro Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Chiappini, Florencia Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Miret, Noelia Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; ArgentinaFil: Cocca, Claudia Marcela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Físico Matemática; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, Laura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; ArgentinaFil: Kleiman, Diana Leonor. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; ArgentinaFil: Sales, Maria Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaFil: Randi, Andrea Silvana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; Argentin

Action of Hexachlorobenzene on tumor growth and metastasis in different experimental models

Hexachlorobenzene (HCB) is a widespread organochlorine pesticide, considered a possible human carcinogen. It is a dioxin-like compound and a weak ligand of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). We have found that HCB activates c-Src/HER1/STAT5b and HER1/ERK1/2 signaling pathways and cell migration, in an AhR-dependent manner in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro the effect of HCB (0.005, 0.05, 0.5, 5μM) on cell invasion and metalloproteases (MMPs) 2 and 9 activation in MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, we examined in vivo the effect of HCB (0.3, 3, 30mg/kg b.w.) on tumor growth, MMP2 and MMP9 expression, and metastasis using MDA-MB-231 xenografts and two syngeneic mouse breast cancer models (spontaneous metastasis using C4-HI and lung experimental metastasis using LM3). Our results show that HCB (5μM) enhances MMP2 expression, as well as cell invasion, through AhR, c-Src/HER1 pathway and MMPs. Moreover, HCB increases MMP9 expression, secretion and activity through a HER1 and AhR-dependent mechanism, in MDA-MB-231 cells. HCB (0.3 and 3mg/kg b.w.) enhances subcutaneous tumor growth in MDA-MB-231 and C4-HI in vivo models. In vivo, using MDA-MB-231 model, the pesticide (0.3, 3 and 30mg/kg b.w.) activated c-Src, HER1, STAT5b, and ERK1/2 signaling pathways and increased MMP2 and MMP9 protein levels. Furthermore, we observed that HCB stimulated lung metastasis regardless the tumor hormone-receptor status. Our findings suggest that HCB may be a risk factor for human breast cancer progression.Fil: Pontillo, Carolina Andrea. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; Argentina;Fil: Rojas, Paola Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina;Fil: Chiappini, Florencia Ana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas . Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos; Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; Argentina;Fil: Sequeira, Gonzalo Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina;Fil: Cocca, Claudia Marcela. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Físico Matemática; Argentina;Fil: Crocci, Máximo. Instituto de Inmunooncología Crescenti; Argentina;Fil: Colombo, Lucas Luis. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Oncología; Argentina;Fil: Lanari, Claudia Lee Malvina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina;Fil: Kleiman de Pisarev, Diana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; Argentina;Fil: Randi, Andrea Silvana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Bioquímica Humana; Argentina