Erythema multiforme-like irritant contact dermatitis after application of an antiscabies treatment.

We describe the case of an irritant contact dermatitis due to an antiscabies treatment in a man who presented to our clinic with an important cutaneous reaction with many hemorrhagic, "target" erythema multiforme-like lesions, as the result of an acute toxic insult of the skin by permethrin 5%. This is a possible, but very uncommon symptom of non-eczematous contact dermatitis and an unusual drug causing the acute hypersensitivity reaction typical of erythema multiforme

Oriente/Occidente: un’unità culturale non (più) percepita

The notion of “Europe” is geographically and culturally controversial. While of Greek origins, this unsteady concept also has other progenitors, unwilling to recognize any “external” contributions to their own culture. One of these progenitors is Denis de Rougemont’s L’Amour et l’Occident, whose “Protestant” approach to the problems posed by the sudden emergence of Troubadour poetry is just as fanciful and untenable as the “Catholic” one. The Troubadour passion, indeed, is a sort of gnostic fever to be seen in a much bigger context than the “Cis-Dardanellian” Europe. If we compare the works of the Troubadours and Dante, for instance, we find unsurprising similarities – if little known – but when a likeness of this sort appears to connect Dante to the Persian Hafez, poet of the fourteenth century, it is quite staggering: the resemblance lies not only in general concepts, but in rhetorical images and the wording too. This paper provides evidence of these and other literary contacts between “Europe” and “Asia”. The sense of alienation we purport to feel when encountering Asian cultures appears, in fact, to be a rather recent affair.  “Europa” è un concetto geograficamente e culturalmente controverso, di origine greca, anche se altri genitori vanno riconosciuti alla balzana idea che essa sia sorta e si sia sviluppata senza apporti esterni. Uno di questi padri è sicuramente L’amour et l’Occidentdi Denis de Rougemont, il cui approccio “protestante” ai problemi posti dal subito apparire della poesia trobadorica è altrettanto fantasioso e insostenibile di quello “cattolico”. Invero, la passione trobadorica è una sorta di febbre gnostica reperibile in un’area più vasta dell’Europa “Cis-Dardanellica”. Ponendo a confronto i lavori dei Trovatori e di Dante, per esempio, troviamo somiglianze forse non sorprendenti – benché malnote – ma quando scorgiamo analoghe similarità tra Dante e il poeta persiano Hâfez, allora trasaliamo, anche perché l’affinità non si limita ai concetti generali, ma si estende alle immagini retoriche e all’espressione verbale. Qualche prova viene esposta circa questi (e altri) contatti letterari tra “Europa” e “Asia”. Il senso di estraneità che pretendiamo spesso di provare di fronte alle culture d’Asia è fatto abbastanza recente

Green route for the isolation and purification of hyrdoxytyrosol, tyrosol, oleacein and oleocanthal from extra virgin olive oil

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) phenols represent a significant part of the intake of antioxidants and bioactive compounds in the Mediterranean diet. In particular, hydroxytyrosol (HTyr), tyrosol (Tyr), and the secoiridoids oleacein and oleocanthal play central roles as anti-inflammatory, neuro-protective and anti-cancer agents. These compounds cannot be easily obtained via chemical synthesis, and their isolation and purification from EVOO is cumbersome. Indeed, both processes involve the use of large volumes of organic solvents, hazardous reagents and several chromatographic steps. In this work we propose a novel optimized procedure for the green extraction, isolation and purification of HTyr, Tyr, oleacein and oleocanthal directly from EVOO, by using a Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent (NaDES) as an extracting phase, coupled with preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. This purification method allows the total recovery of the four components as single pure compounds directly from EVOO, in a rapid, economic and ecologically sustainable way, which utilizes biocompatible reagents and strongly limits the use or generation of hazardous substances

Preliminary study of the mechanical and hygrothermal performance of concrete reinforced with fibrillated cellulose

Cement, being the most widely used building material, is the responsible for a large share of greenhouse gas emissions. To reduce the environmental impact of its production, natural fibres can be used as eco-friendly additives. Moreover, their potential use in traditional lime-based mortars makes them an ideal choice for green buildings as well as for the retrofit of historical buildings. An innovative cementitious composite reinforced with fibrillated cellulose (hereafter called «green concrete») was tested to assess its mechanical and physical properties. Samples were casted using Portland cement and natural hydraulic lime and varying the ratios among the constituents. Viscosity and setting time of the fresh pastes were determined with a viscosimeter and a Vicat apparatus, while their hydration was studied by thermal analysis. The influence of the fibres on the flexural strength of the final composite was determined through mechanical tests. The expected hygrothermal performance of the «green concrete» was explored through dynamic hygrothermal simulation to investigate its potential use as a retrofit material. A sensitivity analysis (SA), based on the hygrothermal properties of natural-based building materials similar to the «green concrete», was conducted to identify the parameters influencing more the simulation of annual internal temperature and moisture variations. The preliminary assessment of the mechanical properties of the «green concrete» showed that at higher percentages the cellulose fibres can negatively affect the workability/setting time of the fresh pastes and the flexural strength. The most promising samples were identified and will undergo further investigation. The SA results outlined that the «green concrete» might not be effective for thermal insulation, although it might be used as a moisture-buffering layer by adjusting the values of the free water saturation moisture content, the equilibrium moisture content at RH=80% and the dry vapour diffusion resistance factor of the final composite

Blueberry counteracts bv-2 microglia morphological and functional switch after lps challenge

Microglia, the innate immune cells of the CNS, respond to brain injury by activating and modifying their morphology. Our study arises from the great interest that has been focused on blueberry (BB) for the antioxidant and pharmacological properties displayed by its components. We analyzed the influence of hydroalcoholic BB extract in resting or lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated microglia BV-2 cells. BB exerted a protective effect against LPS-induced cytotoxicity, as indicated by cell viability. BB was also able to influence the actin cytoskeleton organization, to recover the control phenotype after LPS insult, and also to reduce LPS-driven migration. We evaluated the activity of Rho and Rac1 GTPases, which regulate both actin cytoskeletal organization and migratory capacity. LPS caused an increase in Rac1 activity, which was counteracted by BB extract. Furthermore, we demonstrated that, in the presence of BB, mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α decreased, as did the immunofluorescence signal of iNOS, whereas that of Arg-1 was increased. Taken together, our results show that, during the inflammatory response, BB extract shifts the M1 polarization towards the M2 phenotype through an actin cytoskeletal rearrangement. Based on that, we might consider BB as a nutraceutical with anti-inflammatory activities

PARP-1 modulates amyloid beta peptide-induced neuronal damage.

Amyloid beta peptide (A beta) causes neurodegeneration by several mechanisms including oxidative stress, which is known to induce DNA damage with the consequent activation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP-1). To elucidate the role of PARP-1 in the neurodegenerative process, SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were treated with A beta(25-35) fragment in the presence or absence of MC2050, a new PARP-1 inhibitor. A beta(25-35) induces an enhancement of PARP activity which is prevented by cell pre-treatment with MC2050. These data were confirmed by measuring PARP-1 activity in CHO cells transfected with amylod precursor protein and in vivo in brains specimens of TgCRND8 transgenic mice overproducing the amyloid peptide. Following A beta(25-35) exposure a significant increase in intracellular ROS was observed. These data were supported by the finding that A beta(25-35) induces DNA damage which in turn activates PARP-1. Challenge with A beta(25-35) is also able to activate NF-kB via PARP-1, as demonstrated by NF-kB impairment upon MC2050 treatment. Moreover, A beta(25-35) via PARP-1 induces a significant increase in the p53 protein level and a parallel decrease in the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. These overall data support the hypothesis of PARP-1 involvment in cellular responses induced by A beta and hence a possible rationale for the implication of PARP-1 in neurodegeneration is discussed

Mass spectrometric data

Data show output of MAX Quant analyses obtained from LC-MS data on PARylated protein