GRB Sky Distribution Puzzles

We analyze the randomness of the sky distribution of cosmic gamma-ray bursts. These events are associated with massive galaxies, spiral or elliptical, and therefore their positions should trace the large-scale structure, which, in turn, could show up in the sky distribution of fluctuations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). We test this hypothesis by mosaic correlation mapping of the distributions of CMB peaks and burst positions, find the distribution of these two signals to be correlated, and interpret this correlation as a possible systematic effect.Comment: 12 pages, 16 figures, 1 tabl

Matrix metalloproteinases and periodontitis.

Gingivitis and periodontitis are multifactorial immuno-inflammatory diseases that damage the tissue housing the teeth. Although specific micro-organinsms in the dental plaque play an important role in the aetiology of peiodontal disease, it has become increasingly apparent that environmental and host factors affect their development and progression. Colonizing micro-organisms may elicit periodontal destruction by releasing proteolytic enzymes. Moreover, microbial products provoke an immune response that results in release of cytokines, growth factors and prostanoids that subsequently trigger resident and immigrating cells for expression of enzymes such MMPs. These nezyme are capable of degradation collogen and other extracellular matrix constituents and are implicated in bone resorption so to destroy the supporting structure of the periodontium

Anti-inflammatory effects of Lactobacillus brevis (CD2) on periodontal disease

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the anti-inflammatory effects of Lactobacillus brevis extracts on periodontitis patients and to investigate the involved mechanisms in vitro on activated macrophages. METHODS: Eight healthy subjects and 21 patients with chronic periodontitis were enrolled to analyze the effect of L. brevis-containing lozenges on periodontitis-associated symptoms and signs. Before and after the treatment, the patients received a complete periodontal examination. Saliva samples, collected before and after treatment, were analyzed for metalloproteinase and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, immunoglobulin-A (IgA), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) levels. Arginine deiminase (AD) and NOS activities were determined through a radiometric assay. Metalloproteinases were assayed by zymogram and Western blotting, whereas IgA, PGE(2) and IFN-gamma were assayed by enzyme-linked imunosorbent assay tests. RESULTS: The treatment led to the total disappearance or amelioration of all analyzed clinical parameters in all patients. This was paralleled to a significant decrease of nitrite/nitrate, PGE(2), matrix metalloproteinase, and IFN-gamma levels in saliva samples. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effects of L. brevis could be attributed to the presence of AD which prevented nitric oxide generation. Our findings give further insights into the knowledge of the molecular basis of periodontitis and have a potential clinical significance, giving the experimental ground for a new innovative, simple and efficacious therapeutical approach of periodontal disease

Matrix metalloproteinase pattern in celiac duodenal mucosa

Matrix metalloproteinases ( MMPs) are a family of endopeptidases playing a key role in tissue remodelling in both physiological and pathological conditions. Since little information is available about their role in celiac disease ( CD), our aims were to quantify their expression/ activity and to investigate their relation to proinflammatory cytokines in this condition. Duodenal biopsies from untreated, treated celiac patients and controls were used to quantify the expression of MMP- 1, MMP- 2, MMP- 3, MMP- 9, MMP- 12, MMP- 14, their inhibitor TIMP- 1, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha by using real- time reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction and the gelatin/ casein/ elastin activities by gel zymography, and to isolate lamina propria mononuclear cells ( LPMCs). These cells and myofibroblasts isolated from jejunal specimens were incubated in the absence or presence of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. MMP- 1 and MMP- 12 mRNA levels were significantly increased in active CD compared to treated ( P < 0.01 and P < 0.0005, respectively) and normal mucosa ( P < 0.01 and P < 0.0005, respectively), and this was paralleled by an upregulation of caseinolytic and elastolytic activities. Furthermore, MMP- 12 levels significantly ( P < 0.05) correlated with those of IFN-gamma and the degree of villous flattening. MMP- 2 turned out to be significantly ( P < 0.05) reduced in untreated and treated celiacs compared to controls. In active CD, transcripts of TIMP- 1 were higher than in treated and controls ( P < 0.005 and P < 0.05, respectively), such as those of IFN-gamma ( P < 0.05), whereas TNF-alpha levels were suppressed ( P = 0.0001). In physiological condition, myofibroblasts represent the main source of MMP- 2, whereas LPMCs produce almost all MMPs only after cytokine stimulation. Conversely, cells isolated from active patients constitutively express MMPs without any increase after cytokine stimulation, while those from treated patients are in a resting condition. In conclusion, our results show the presence of a peculiar MMP pattern in active CD strongly dominated by MMP- 12, correlating either with IFN-gamma or the degree of mucosal damage

Minimum rank and minimum trace of covariance matrices

factor analysis, covariance matrices, minimum trace, constrained minimum trace, minimum rank,

Matrix metalloproteinase pattern in celiac duodenal mucosa.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of endopeptidases playing a key role in tissue remodelling in both physiological and pathological conditions. Since little information is available about their role in celiac disease (CD), our aims were to quantify their expression/activity and to investigate their relation to proinflammatory cytokines in this condition. Duodenal biopsies from untreated, treated celiac patients and controls were used to quantify the expression of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, MMP-12, MMP-14, their inhibitor TIMP-1, IFN-c and TNF-a by using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and the gelatin/casein/elastin activities by gel zymography, and to isolate lamina propria mononuclear cells (LPMCs). These cells and myofibroblasts isolated from jejunal specimens were incubated in the absence or presence of IFN-c and TNF-a. MMP-1 and MMP-12 mRNA levels were significantly increased in active CD compared to treated (Po0.01 and Po0.0005, respectively) and normal mucosa (Po0.01 and Po0.0005, respectively), and this was paralleled by an upregulation of caseinolytic and elastolytic activities. Furthermore, MMP-12 levels significantly (Po0.05) correlated with those of IFN-c and the degree of villous flattening. MMP-2 turned out to be significantly (Po0.05) reduced in untreated and treated celiacs compared to controls. In active CD, transcripts of TIMP-1 were higher than in treated and controls (Po0.005 and Po0.05, respectively), such as those of IFN-c (Po0.05), whereas TNF-a levels were suppressed (P¼0.0001). In physiological condition, myofibroblasts represent the main source of MMP-2, whereas LPMCs produce almost all MMPs only after cytokine stimulation. Conversely, cells isolated from active patients constitutively express MMPs without any increase after cytokine stimulation, while those from treated patients are in a resting condition. In conclusion, our results show the presence of a peculiar MMP pattern in active CD strongly dominated by MMP-12, correlating either with IFN-c or the degree of mucosal damage