Vincenzo Matera (a cura di), Storia dell’etnografia. Autori, teorie, pratiche

La crisi pandemica contemporanea oramai da molti mesi ha obbligato l’antropologia e coloro che la praticano a riflettere sugli spazi delle proprie ricerche e a rimodularli, impossibilitati come sono (come siamo) ad «andare sul campo» e a costruire, rinsaldare e alimentare quelle preziosissime reti di relazioni sociali fondamentali per la conoscenza e comprensione di habitus culturali. Certo, torneremo tutti «sul campo» quando, ci auguriamo quanto prima, sarà ristabilita la nostra consueta quo..

Erei yayepitako chupe, lo vendicheremo. Immaginario vendicatorio e stregoneria in Isoso. Un approccio antropologico giuridico

This paper treats the relationship between vengeance and witchcraft in the contemporary Guaraní-speaking indigenous region of Isoso, in the Bolivian Chaco. The cases study discussed are about accusations of witchcraft that have generated a retaliation action of vengeance. The argument is that the vengeance is a language that expresses a moral idea, turning into a norm a violent behaviour if validated and substantiated by an idea of justice. Indeed, vengeance is corrects only if it is exercised as a violent retaliatory action against witchcraft. The article concludes that the vengeance in Isoso continues to be conceived as a violent reciprocity mechanism even if the homicide now is forbidden. This because the vengeance still remains a thought model that establishes the community legal imagination and represents the conflictive relationship with witchcraft

Giustizia indigena in Bolivia: i Guaraní di Charagua

Il campo del diritto è sfaccettato e l’antropologia giuridica sin dalle sue origini ha contribuito a tracciare un percorso utile a quanti scelgano di cimentarsi con le molteplici forme che la pratica giuridica veste all’interno di specifici campi sociali. Attraverso l’analisi della forma e del contenuto del diritto conseguente all’osservazione etnografica dei processi di giuridicizzazione (Rouland, 1992), gli studi antropologici hanno nel tempo constatato il carattere di variabilità che il diritto assume in relazione alle logiche fondanti di ogni società

Pluralismo giuridico e pratica giuridica indigena: il caso dei Guaranì del Chaco Boliviano

This article ethnographically explores the form and the content of juridical practices of Guarani people living in the Capitanías of Charagua Norte and Alto Isoso, Bolivia. Starting from the Bolivian legal pluralism main field and through the analysis of some juridical case study, I answer some questions about how the Guarani people act and interpret the legal field in a plural legal context. I argue that such guarani people practice is both rooted in an interlegal field of sense and meaning and product of a legal and political strategy useful to hide and protect the indigenous juridical habitus

Circulating MicroRNA Profiling in Cancer Biomarker Discovery

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules of approximately 22 nucleotides that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Alterations in miRNA expression patterns correlate with a wide spectrum of pathological conditions, including cancer. miRNA profiling was mostly performed, in solid tissues, obtained by invasive diagnostic procedures. However, miRNAs in biofluids, such as serum and plasma, show high stability resulting from the formation of complexes with specific protein or incorporation within circulating exosomes or other microvesicles. Circulating miRNAs could be reliable biomarkers for early-stage cancer diagnosis, prognosis and response to therapy. In this chapter, we analyze the major pre-analytical and analytical challenges in experimental design for circulating miRNA detection, focusing on exosome fraction and microarray-based approach

Genetic variants associated with gastrointestinal symptoms in Fabry disease.

Gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) are often among the earliest presenting events in Fabry disease (FD), an X-linked lysosomal disorder caused by the deficiency of α-galactosidase A. Despite recent advances in clinical and molecular characterization of FD, the pathophysiology of the GIS is still poorly understood. To shed light either on differential clinical presentation or on intervariability of GIS in FD, we genotyped 1936 genetic markers across 231 genes that encode for drug-metabolizing enzymes and drug transport proteins in 49 FD patients, using the DMET Plus platform. All nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) mapped within four genes showed statistically significant differences in genotype frequencies between FD patients who experienced GIS and patients without GIS: ABCB11 (odd ratio (OR) = 18.07, P = 0,0019; OR = 8.21, P = 0,0083; OR=8.21, P = 0,0083; OR = 8.21, P = 0,0083),SLCO1B1 (OR = 9.23, P = 0,0065; OR = 5.08, P = 0,0289; OR = 8.21, P = 0,0083), NR1I3 (OR = 5.40, P = 0,0191) and ABCC5 (OR = 14.44, P = 0,0060). This is the first study that investigates the relationships between genetic heterogeneity in drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) related genes and GIS in FD. Our findings provide a novel genetic variant framework which warrants further investigation for precision medicine in FD

Violenza e conflitto

articoli selezionati in base ad un international call sui concetti di conflitto e violenz

Risk Alleles for Multiple Myeloma Susceptibility in ADME Genes

The cause of multiple myeloma (MM) remains largely unknown. Several pieces of evidence support the involvement of genetic and multiple environmental factors (i.e., chemical agents) in MM onset. The inter-individual variability in the bioactivation, detoxification, and clearance of chemical carcinogens such as asbestos, benzene, and pesticides might increase the MM risk. This inter-individual variability can be explained by the presence of polymorphic variants in absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) genes. Despite the high relevance of this issue, few studies have focused on the inter-individual variability in ADME genes in MM risk. To identify new MM susceptibility loci, we performed an extended candidate gene approach by comparing high-throughput genotyping data of 1936 markers in 231 ADME genes on 64 MM patients and 59 controls from the CEU population. Differences in genotype and allele frequencies were validated using an internal control group of 35 non-cancer samples from the same geographic area as the patient group. We detected an association between MM risk and ADH1B rs1229984 (OR = 3.78; 95% CI, 1.18–12.13; p = 0.0282), PPARD rs6937483 (OR = 3.27; 95% CI, 1.01–10.56; p = 0.0479), SLC28A1 rs8187737 (OR = 11.33; 95% CI, 1.43–89.59; p = 0.005), SLC28A2 rs1060896 (OR = 6.58; 95% CI, 1.42–30.43; p = 0.0072), SLC29A1 rs8187630 (OR = 3.27; 95% CI, 1.01–10.56; p = 0.0479), and ALDH3A2 rs72547554 (OR = 2.46; 95% CI, 0.64–9.40; p = 0.0293). The prognostic value of these genes in MM was investigated in two public datasets showing that shorter overall survival was associated with low expression of ADH1B and SLC28A1. In conclusion, our proof-of-concept findings provide novel insights into the genetic bases of MM susceptibility

Dissimulare l'anomia: mafie locali e rifunzionalizzazione del modello tradizionale. Il caso della Mafia Garganico (Foggia)

This paper treats the relationship between blood feud paradigm and mafia practices in the Gargano region of Southern Italy. The case study discussed, coming from a long-term ethnography, is about alliance and conflict practices between two criminals groups that represent their violent behaviour with the words of tradition. The argument is that the Gargano mafia groups use the traditional normative value paradigm to create consensus within the community, root themselves in the local territory, and protect their criminal interests. The article concludes that the reciprocity mechanism of blood feud paradigm used by criminals groups to represent their conflict is a communicative strategy functional to hide the criminal intent behind the reassuring symbol of blood spilled that must be avenged

Giustizia indigena in Bolivia: i Guaraní di Charagua

This article ethnographically explores the form and the content of juridical practices of Guarani people living in the Capitanías of Charagua , Bolivia. Starting from the Bolivian legal pluralism main field and through the analysis of some juridical case study, I answer some questions about how the Guarani people act and interpret the legal field in a plural legal context. I argue that such guarani people practice is both rooted in an interlegal field of sense and meaning and product of a legal and political strategy useful to hide and protect the indigenous juridical habitus