Arabinogalactan as active compound in the management of corneal wounds: In vitro toxicity and in vivo investigations on rabbits

ABSTRACT: Purpose: Aims of the present investigation were to prove that natural polysaccharide arabinogalactan (AG) is well tolerated after ocular administration and exerts a high restoring effect on corneal epithelium abrasions. Materials and Methods: AG interactions with corneal cells, as well as its effect on their proliferation, were evaluated employing rabbit corneal epithelial cell cultures. The effects due to the presence of benzalkonium chloride (BAK) were also studied on cell cultures, ex vivo on rabbit isolated corneas, evaluating the hydration level, and on the healing rate of experimental corneal wounds in rabbits. Furthermore, the healing process of corneal lesions treated with an experimental 5.0% AG solution was studied and compared with those obtained applying solutions of hyaluronic acid and tamarind seed polysaccharide, both chosen as a reference by virtue of their well-known adjuvant properties on corneal trophism; the study was carried out by light and transmission electron microscopy. Results: BAK showed toxic effects on corneal epithelium in all experiments. AG proved to stimulate the growth of the corneal epithelial cells by interacting at the level of the cell plasma membrane. The microscopy observations of the epithelial surface of AG-treated damaged corneas revealed a well-restored and histologically organized ultrastructure characterized by fully formed microvilli and glycocalyx; the healing process resulted faster with respect to spontaneously recovered untreated corneas. Conclusion: Our results suggest that AG can interact with corneal epithelial cells without any toxic side effect; moreover, it proved to stimulate cell proliferation, thus promoting tissue re-epithelialization and reorganization just 48hr post-woundin

Che-1 arrests human colon carcinoma cell proliferation by displacing HDAC1 from the p21WAF1/CIP1 promoter.

Che-1 is a recently identified human RNA polymerase II binding protein involved in the regulation of gene transcription and cell proliferation. We previously demonstrated that Che-1 inhibits the Rb growth-suppressing function by interfering with Rb-mediated HDAC1 recruitment on E2F target gene promoters. By hybridization of cancer profile arrays, we found that Che-1 expression is strongly down-regulated in several tumors, including colon and kidney carcinomas, compared with the relative normal tissues. Consistent with these data, Che-1 overexpression inhibits proliferation of HCT116 and LoVo human colon carcinoma cell lines by activation of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21WAF1/Cip1 in a p53-independent manner and by promoting growth arrest at the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Che-1 activates p21WAF1/Cip1 by displacing histone deacetylase (HDAC)1 from the Sp1 binding sites of the p21WAF1/Cip1 gene promoter and accumulating acetylated histone H3 on these sites. Accordingly, Che-1-specific RNA interference negatively affects p21WAF1/Cip1 transactivation and increases cell proliferation in HCT116 cells. Taken together, our results indicate that Che-1 can be considered a general HDAC1 competitor and its down-regulation is involved in colon carcinoma cell proliferation

Pregnancy and neonatal outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection discovered at the time of delivery: a tertiary center experience in North Italy

Objectives: Although the knowledge on SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy has greatly improved, there is still a lack of information on its role in the later stages of gestation. The aim of this study is to investigate whether SARS-CoV-2 discovered at delivery is associated with any obstetric or neonatal complications. Methods: A retrospective case-control study was conducted at Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Maggiore della Carità, Novara, Italy, from March 2020 to March 2023. Pregnant women admitted were tested for SARS-CoV-2. 168 women resulted positive at the time of delivery; the women were asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic. 170 negative women were selected as controls, selecting, for each SARS-CoV-2 positive patient, the patient who gave birth right before, if negative. Demographic and anamnestic characteristics, pregnancy, labor, and neonatal outcomes were evaluated. Results: SARS-CoV-2 positive patients were more likely to have gestational diabetes (13.7 vs. 5.3 %) and required less frequently intrapartum analgesia (11.3 vs. 27 %) and labor augmentation (7.3 vs. 16.5 %). Post-partum hemorrhage rate was lower (13.7 vs. 22.9 %) and a shorter length of first and second stage of labor occurred. There were no statistically significant differences between the two groups regarding the mode of delivery and neonatal outcomes. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 positive patients have shorter labor length and a lower incidence of postpartum hemorrhage. Fewer obstetric interventions, as well as less use of intrapartum analgesia and oxytocin, could explain these findings. Moreover, gestational diabetes could increase susceptibility to infection. SARS-CoV-2 infection discovered at the time of delivery in asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic patients does not appear to increase the rate of cesarean delivery or other obstetric complications, and neonatal outcomes have not worsened

Guía de Incorporación de Cartas Temáticas Pre-existentes de la Dirección de Geología Ambiental y Aplicada de la República de Argentina a Escala 1:250.000

Fil: Pedreira Junco, José Ángel. SADIM: Sociedad Asturiana de Diversificación Minera; España. .Fil: Avanzas, Rubén. SADIM: Sociedad Asturiana de Diversificación Minera; España.Fil: López Rivas, J. SADIM: Sociedad Asturiana de Diversificación Minera; España.Fil: Tobio, María Inés. SEGEMAR: Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; Argentina.Fil: Chavez, Roxana. SEGEMAR: Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; Argentina.Fil: González, María Alejandra. SEGEMAR: Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; Argentina.Fil: Elisondo, Manuela. SEGEMAR: Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; Argentina.Fil: Villegas, Daniela. SEGEMAR: Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; Argentina.Fil: Caballaro, Sandra. SEGEMAR: Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; Argentina.Fil: Nicosia Burgos, Federico R. SEGEMAR: Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; Argentina.Fil: Rivas, Irma S. SEGEMAR: Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; Argentina.Fil: Fratalochi, Catalina. SEGEMAR: Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; Argentina.Fil: Tello, Norma Elisa. SEGEMAR: Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; Argentina.Fil: Ferpozzi, Federico Javier. SEGEMAR: Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; Argentina.Fil: Candaosa, Norberto Gabriel. SEGEMAR: Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; Argentina.Fil: Chavez, Silvia Beatríz. SEGEMAR: Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; Argentina.Fil: Álvarez Fernández, Saúl. SADIM: Sociedad Asturiana de Diversificación Minera; España