Time linkages between pollination onsets of different taxa in Perugia, Central Italy--an update.

Introduction and objective In the last decades, increasing attention has been paid to pollinosis. Numerous studies have been carried out concerning the pollination timing of allergenic plant species and the possibility to forecast its beginning and intensity using several statistical methods and models. This study proposes a simple and fast method to identify in advance the time lapse in which the pollination of some allergenic taxa should start. Material and Methods The times of pollination of 14 taxa were recorded in the area of Perugia (Central Italy) by means of a 7-volumetric Hirst-Type pollen trap. For a 30-year period (1984–2013), annual starting dates were calculated for each taxa , using the 5% method (Lejoly-Gabriel). The time linkages between these starting dates were then estimated, considering them in pairs and calculating linear regression coefficients. Results For the significantly linked species, forecasting models were obtained by means of linear regression analysis. To apply these models to the ongoing pollen season, pollination beginning of the earlier species has to be calculated using a sum-based method. From this date, through the obtained equations, it is possible to predict the approximate period in which the pollination of the second linked taxa should start. Conclusions The possibility to predict the start of the pollen season of these taxa could be of great importance from the allergological point of view. In fact, an early or delayed flowering can have considerable effects in the prophylaxis programming and efficacy

Erratum to "Selenium as stressor and antioxidant affects pollen performance in Olea europaea" [FLORA 215 (2015) 16–22]

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Selenium as stressor and antioxidant affects pollen performance in Olea europaea

Abstract Selenium (Se) as an antioxidant is a trace element essential to wellness and the maintenance of human health. Although it has not been confirmed to be an essential micronutrient in higher plants, there is increasing evidence of its benefits in plants in which it inhibits the detrimental effects of environmental stressors, while only few studies refer to its action on pollen germination. Selenium enhances the stress tolerance regulating the production and quenching of reactive oxygen species (ROS); however, the endogenous ROS are essential to the cross-talk between pollen and stigma and promote pollen tube growth. The action of Se has many mechanisms, not all yet fully clarified. In order to deepen the knowledge and fill the gaps in the role of Se as an inhibitor of ROS and, at the same time, a promoter of pollen germination, we attempted this research, enriching olive trees growing in pots and in the field with Se. The plants in pots were kept at a controlled water regime in order to induce drought stress. To test the effect of antioxidant on pollen performance, a single application of Se was supplied to the plants at the beginning of pollen development. Two olive cultivars (Arbequina and Maurino) were used in three different experiments in which Se enrichment was carried out through (i) endo-xylematic drip injection, (ii) foliar spray, (iii) soil application. The pollen performance was assessed at anthesis. The results showed that Se enrichment in non-stressed plants induced a higher rate of pollen viability and germination, but it did not always stimulate their reproductive performance. Different responses were obtained in drought stressed plants, in which Se induced pollen germination, obtaining a performance similar to non-stressed plants. The ROS detection by a quantitative method, applied on hydrated pollen, verified the results just discussed

Deciphering the Agonist Binding Mechanism to the Adenosine A1 Receptor.

Despite being among the most characterized G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), adenosine receptors (ARs) have always been a difficult target in drug design. To date, no agonist other than the natural effector and the diagnostic regadenoson has been approved for human use. Recently, the structure of the adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) was determined in the active, Gi protein complexed state; this has important repercussions for structure-based drug design. Here, we employed supervised molecular dynamics simulations and mutagenesis experiments to extend the structural knowledge of the binding of selective agonists to A1R. Our results identify new residues involved in the association and dissociation pathway, they suggest the binding mode of N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) related ligands, and they highlight the dramatic effect that chemical modifications can have on the overall binding mechanism, paving the way for the rational development of a structure-kinetics relationship of A1R agonists.Leverhulme Trus

Teaching to teach with a LMS: the experience at University of Perugia

[EN] A Learning Management System (LMS) is nowadays a pivotal element in the education environment of a modern university. However, though it generally has a beneficial and positive impact on the education, a part of the teachers is sometimes reluctant to adopt a LMS because of the perceived usage difficulty. Therefore, it is clear that a key step in order to spread the use of a LMS is to teach to the teachers how to use it and which benefits their teaching activities can gain. In this paper, we report and analyze the experience we had at University of Perugia. An e-learning course has been released to the (approximately) 1000 teachers of the university with the aim of introducing them to the basic tools provided by the LMS. Importantly, the course has been created and delivered by means of UniStudium, i.e., the Moodle-based LMS deployed in our university. This allowed us to collect interesting quantitative and qualitative data that have been elaborated and analyzed. The analysis shows that the activities carried out reached a prominent percentage of teachers, by also providing us important suggestions and hints to guide our future activities in this direction.http://ocs.editorial.upv.es/index.php/HEAD/HEAD18Filomia, M.; Santucic, V.; Vinti, G.; De Santis, GMP.; Falcinelli, F.; Frenguelli, G.; Lorenzi, C.... (2018). Teaching to teach with a LMS: the experience at University of Perugia. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1439-1447. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAD18.2018.8221OCS1439144

Exogenous Liposomal ceramide-c6 ammeliorates lipidomic profile, energy homeostasis and anti-oxidant systems in NASH

In non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), many lines of investigation have reported a dysregulation in lipid homeostasis, leading to intrahepatic lipid accumulation. Recently, the role of dysfunctional sphingolipid metabolism has also been proposed. Human and animal models of NASH have been associated with elevated levels of long chain ceramides and pro-apoptotic sphingolipid metabolites, implicated in regulating fatty acid oxidation and inflammation. Importantly, inhibition of de novo ceramide biosynthesis or knock-down of ceramide synthases reverse some of the pathology of NASH. In contrast, cell permeable, short chain ceramides have shown anti-inflammatory actions in multiple models of inflammatory disease. Here, we investigated non-apoptotic doses of a liposome containing short chain C6-Ceramide (Lip-C6) administered to human hepatic stellate cells (hHSC), a key effector of hepatic fibrogenesis, and an animal model characterized by inflammation and elevated liver fat content. On the basis of the results from unbiased liver transcriptomic studies from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease patients, we chose to focus on adenosine monophosphate activated kinase (AMPK) and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) signaling pathways, which showed an abnormal profile. Lip-C6 administration inhibited hHSC proliferation while improving anti-oxidant protection and energy homeostasis, as indicated by upregulation of Nrf2, activation of AMPK and an increase in ATP. To confirm these in vitro data, we investigated the effect of a single tail-vein injection of Lip-C6 in the methionine-choline deficient (MCD) diet mouse model. Lip-C6, but not control liposomes, upregulated phospho-AMPK, without inducing liver toxicity, apoptosis, or exacerbating inflammatory signaling pathways. Alluding to mechanism, mass spectrometry lipidomics showed that Lip-C6-treatment reversed the imbalance in hepatic phosphatidylcholines and diacylglycerides species induced by the MCD-fed diet. These results reveal that short-term Lip-C6 administration reverses energy/metabolic depletion and increases protective anti-oxidant signaling pathways, possibly by restoring homeostatic lipid function in a model of liver inflammation with fat accumulation

Time linkages between pollination onsets of different <i>taxa</i> in Perugia, Central Italy – an update

Introduction and objective In the last decades, increasing attention has been paid to pollinosis. Numerous studies have been carried out concerning the pollination timing of allergenic plant species and the possibility to forecast its beginning and intensity using several statistical methods and models. This study proposes a simple and fast method to identify in advance the time lapse in which the pollination of some allergenic taxa should start. Material and Methods The times of pollination of 14 taxa were recorded in the area of Perugia (Central Italy) by means of a 7-volumetric Hirst-Type pollen trap. For a 30-year period (1984–2013), annual starting dates were calculated for each taxa , using the 5% method (Lejoly-Gabriel). The time linkages between these starting dates were then estimated, considering them in pairs and calculating linear regression coefficients. Results For the significantly linked species, forecasting models were obtained by means of linear regression analysis. To apply these models to the ongoing pollen season, pollination beginning of the earlier species has to be calculated using a sum-based method. From this date, through the obtained equations, it is possible to predict the approximate period in which the pollination of the second linked taxa should start. Conclusions The possibility to predict the start of the pollen season of these taxa could be of great importance from the allergological point of view. In fact, an early or delayed flowering can have considerable effects in the prophylaxis programming and efficacy

Bosco della salute

La progettazione di boschi urbani e di cintura, nella scelta delle essenze arboree, spesso si sofferma su aspetti di carattere paesaggistico ed estetico e non su aspetti relativi alla salute. Attraverso l'analisi di dati statistici di carattere medico, nel testo si definisce un abaco di essenze non allergeniche che oltre a garantire prestazioni ecologiche e paesaggistiche elevate permettono di creare ambienti urbani più adatti a soggetti che soffrono di specifiche patologie legate ad agenti di natura vegetale

Increasing the accuracy of proteomic typing by decellularisation of amyloid tissue biopsies

Diagnosis and treatment of systemic amyloidosis depend on accurate identification of the specific amyloid fibril protein forming the tissue deposits. Confirmation of monoclonal immunoglobulin light chain amyloidosis (AL), requiring cytotoxic chemotherapy, and avoidance of such treatment in non-AL amyloidosis, are particularly important. Proteomic analysis characterises amyloid proteins directly. It complements immunohistochemical staining of amyloid to identify fibril proteins and gene sequencing to identify mutations in the fibril precursors. However, proteomics sometimes detects more than one potentially amyloidogenic protein, especially immunoglobulins and transthyretin which are abundant plasma proteins. Ambiguous results are most challenging in the elderly as both AL and transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis are usually present in this group. We have lately described a procedure for tissue decellularisation which retains the structure, integrity and composition of amyloid but removes proteins that are not integrated within the deposits. Here we show that use of this procedure before proteomic analysis eliminates ambiguity and improves diagnostic accuracy. SIGNIFICANCE: Unequivocal identification of the protein causing amyloidosis disease is crucial for correct diagnosis and treatment. As a proof of principle, we selected a number of cardiac and fat tissue biopsies from patients with various types of amyloidosis and show that a classical procedure of decellularisation enhances the specificity of the identification of the culprit protein reducing ambiguity and the risk of misdiagnosis