The Scarabaeoidea of the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean) (Coleoptera)

The Scarabaeoidea of the families Trogidae, Geotrupidae, Hybosoridae and Scarabaeidae from the Maltese islands are reviewed. A total of 54 species are included of which the following eight species represent new records for this archipelago: Trox fabricii and T. scaber in Trogidae; Aphodius beduinus, A. algiricus, Amphimallon (?) scutellare, Aplidia hirticollis, Protaetia opaca and Lasiotrichius succinctus in Scarabaeidae. Of these, the record of Aplidia hirticollis, previously endemic to southern Italy, extends its distributional range further south and that of Lasiotrichius succinctus is based on intercepted material and its local establishment is not confi rmed. A number of species are based on old records and were not collected again recently pointing out to the possible extinction of these species from Malta. The almost complete absence of grazing animals in Malta may have contributed substantially for the disappearance of species associated with animal dung. Thirteen previously recorded species of Scarabaeoidea from Malta are being excluded from the Maltese fauna.peer-reviewe

La Argentina, su crisis y su reconstrucción

Abstract not available.Resumen no disponible

Mesenchymal stem cells-derived vascular smooth muscle cells release abundant levels of osteoprotegerin

Although several studies have shown that the serum levels of osteoprotegerin (OPG) are significantly elevated in patients affected with atherosclerotic lesions in coronary and peripheral arteries, the cellular source and the role of OPG in the physiopathology of atherosclerosis are not completely defined. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential contribution of mesenchymal stem cells in the production/release of OPG. OPG was detectable by immunohistochemistry in aortic and coronary atherosclerotic plaques, within or in proximity of intimal vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). In addition, bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived vascular SMC as well as primary aortic SMC released in the culture supernatant significantly higher levels of OPG with respect to MSC-derived endothelial cells (EC) or primary aortic EC. On the other hand, in vitro exposure to full-length human recombinant OPG significantly increased the proliferation rate of aortic SMC cultures, as monitored by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. Taken together, these data suggest that OPG acts as an autocrine/paracrine growth factor for vascular SMC, which might contribute to the progression of atherosclerotic lesions

Simian virus 40 in humans

Simian virus 40 (SV40) is a monkey virus that was administered to human populations by contaminated vaccines which were produced in SV40 naturally infected monkey cells

Seguridad y evaluación de performance en redes locales

El notorio desarrollo de los sistemas distribuidos y en particular las redes locales resalta la importancia profesional y académica que reviste el estudio de diferentes aspectos de estas arqui tecturas. Nuestro objetivo fue desarrollar una herramienta que mejore la gestión de supervisión de un sistema de red bajo el sistema operativo NetWare, dada su gran difusión en el mercado. Para esto se estudiaron, en primer lugar, los aspectos de seguridad en redes, referidos tanto a protección y supervisión de operaciones a nivel sistema operativo de la red, como a una protección en la comunicación entre usuarios distribuidos. En segundo lugar se estudiaron las características de la red que son útiles en la evaluación de performance. Como resultado se desarrollo un sistema para NetWare v 2.11 y posteriores que permite controlar la seguridad de la red a nivel de conexiones y detección de intrusos, como también controlar la utilización de los recursos.Tesis digitalizada en SEDICI gracias a la colaboración de la Biblioteca de la Facultad de Informática.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Seguridad y evaluación de performance en redes locales

El notorio desarrollo de los sistemas distribuidos y en particular las redes locales resalta la importancia profesional y académica que reviste el estudio de diferentes aspectos de estas arqui tecturas. Nuestro objetivo fue desarrollar una herramienta que mejore la gestión de supervisión de un sistema de red bajo el sistema operativo NetWare, dada su gran difusión en el mercado. Para esto se estudiaron, en primer lugar, los aspectos de seguridad en redes, referidos tanto a protección y supervisión de operaciones a nivel sistema operativo de la red, como a una protección en la comunicación entre usuarios distribuidos. En segundo lugar se estudiaron las características de la red que son útiles en la evaluación de performance. Como resultado se desarrollo un sistema para NetWare v 2.11 y posteriores que permite controlar la seguridad de la red a nivel de conexiones y detección de intrusos, como también controlar la utilización de los recursos.Tesis digitalizada en SEDICI gracias a la colaboración de la Biblioteca de la Facultad de Informática.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

The soluble terminal complement complex (SC5b-9) up-regulates osteoprotegerin expression and release by endothelial cells: Implications in rheumatoid arthritis

Objective. Complement activation products contribute to a large number of inflammatory diseases, including RA. We have investigated whether osteoprotegerin (OPG) may concur with the soluble terminal complement complex (SC5b-9) to the inflammatory cascade characterizing RA. Methods. Levels of SC5b-9 and OPG in the plasma and SF of patients with active RA were determined by ELISA. The presence of SC5b-9 and OPG in RA synovial lesions was analysed by immunohistochemistry. Cultured endothelial cells were used for in vitro leucocyte/endothelial cell adhesion assays. In addition, endothelial cells were exposed to SC5b-9 in order to evaluate the effects on the production of OPG protein, as well as the activation of the OPG promoter. Results. Patients affected by active RA are characterized by elevated levels of both SC5b-9 and OPG in plasma and/or SF. Of note, we have observed a co-localization of SC5b-9 and OPG in endothelial cells of post-capillary venules of RA synovial lesions. Data on endothelial cell cultures showed that exposure to SC5b-9 induced the up-regulation of OPG expression/release, stimulating the transcriptional activity of the OPG promoter, and synergized with TNF-α in up-regulating OPG production. Conclusions. Our findings demonstrate that SC5b-9 induces OPG production by endothelial cells and we propose that the SC5b-9-mediated up-regulation of OPG may be an important mechanism whereby complement contributes in promoting and/or enhancing the inflammation in RA. © The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved

Sistema “killer” en cepas de candida albicans. Parte I.

Se analizaron 94 ( 100%) cepas de levaduras de nuestra Micoteca pertenecientes principalmente a los géneros: Candida 64.89%; Saccharomyces 14%; Rhodotorula 5,31% y Pichia 4,25%. De todas las cepas estudiadas C. catenulata resultó killer positiva frente a cepas de C. alblcans sensibles, y también mostraron eficacia “killer” algunas cepas de C. albicans, C. guilliermondii, C. parapsilosis, C.pulcherrima, Hansenula anomala, C. utilis y Trigonopsis variabllis, con diferentes porcentajes de actividad.El objeto de esta comunicación es presentar los resultados de la búsqueda de un sistema "killer" adecuado que será posteriormente enfrentado a C. albicans y otras especies de este género aisladas de materiales clínicos que se procesan en nuestro laboratorio asistencia

Antibodies reacting with Simian virus 40 mimotopes in serum samples from patients with thalassaemia major

Background. Simian virus 40 (SV40) is a small DNA tumour virus. Footprints of the virus have been detected in different humam lymphoproliferative disorders and in blood specimens of blood from healthy blood donors. This study was carried out to verify whether SV40 antibodies can be detected in serum samples from multiply transfused patients with thalassaemia major.Materials and methods. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was employed, using SV40 specific synthetic peptides mimicking the antigens of the viral capsid proteins 1-2-3, to test for the presence of antibodies to SV40 in serum samples taken from patients affected by transfusiondependent thalassaemia major (n=190) and healthy blood donors (n=251).Results. The prevalence of antibodies against SV40 was higher in patients than in controls (24% vs 17%). The prevalence increased and was significantly higher in the older age group of patients affected by thalassemia major than in controls (38% vs 20%, p<0.04).Discussion. The higher prevalence of serum antibodies against simian virus 40 in older, multiply transfused patients with thalassamia major than in controls suggests that this virus, or a closely related yet unknown human polyomavirus, could have been transmitted in the past by transfusion with whole blood. At the same time, our data indicate no significant differences in prevalence of SV40 antibodies in patients and controls of younger age thus suggesting that current transfusion methods with leucodepletion and filtered red cells are safe

Potential Prognostic Significance of Decreased Serum Levels of TRAIL after Acute Myocardial Infarction

BACKGROUND: Since soluble TRAIL exhibits anti-inflammatory and anti-atherosclerotic activities both in vitro and in animal models, this study was designed to assess the relationship between the serum levels of TRAIL and clinical outcomes in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Levels of TRAIL were measured by ELISA in serial serum samples obtained from 60 patients admitted for AMI, both during hospitalization and in a follow-up of 12 months, as well as in 60 healthy control subjects. Serum levels of TRAIL were significantly decreased in patients with AMI at baseline (within 24 hours from admission), compared with healthy controls, and showed a significant inverse correlation with a series of negative prognostic markers, such as CK, CK-MB and BNP. TRAIL serum levels progressively increased at discharge, but normalized only at 6-12 months after AMI. Of note, low TRAIL levels at the patient discharge were associated with increased incidence of cardiac death and heart failure in the 12-month follow-up, even after adjustment for demographic and clinical risk parameters (hazard ratio [HR] of 0.93 [95% CI, 0.89 to 0.97]; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Although the number of patients studied was limited, our findings indicate for the first time that circulating TRAIL might represent an important predictor of cardiovascular events, independent of conventional risk markers