La classificazione delle parlate romanze: alcuni problemi di metodo

Nel suo libro orientativo e informativo, Aventuras del latín y orígenes de las lenguas románicas, D. Gazdaru dedica un intero parágrafo al problema della classificazione delle lingue romanze e ai differenti criteri che possono presiedere a questa operazione classificatoria. Come mostra anche la vasta letteratura da lui ivi ricordata, la varietá dei criteri e la divergenza delle opinioni non sono la caratteristica meno evidente di questo settore particolare delle ricerche romanistiche, settore a volte guardato con un certo distacco ma non per questo infecondo, in quanto l’esigenza di classificare e di precisare le vicendevoli relazioni dei fatti esaminati é una delle esigenze fondamentali della ricerca scientifica.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educación (FAHCE

CRESCITA ED INDICI METABOLICI PRECOCI DELLO STATO NUTRIZIONALE IN FIGLI DI MADRE DIABETICA

Background: Infants of diabetic mothers (IDM) are at increased risk for the development of obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS) in childhood. Maternal obesity, fetal macrosomy and early acceleration of postnatal growth may be additional risk factors. Objective: Aim of present study is to assess whether an increased weight gain can be detected in IDM and to define which biochemical markers of metabolism in the newborn and anthropometric parameters in the first year of life can be used to identify those IDM that are most subject to growth acceleration. Design/Methods: 56 infants of daibetic mothers both non insulin-treated (NIT-GDM) and insulin-treated (IT-GDM) have been recruited. Each newborn has been assessed for metabolic and nutritional status (Glycaemia, Electrolytes, Blood Urea Nitrogen, Retinol Binding Protein [RBP], Cholesterol, Triglycerides Total Fatty Acids) at 4+1 days of life. Anthropometric measurements (weight, length, head circumference, waist circumference, tricep skinfold) have been taken in the first year of life (at birth, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months). The most well known risk factors for obesity and MS in childhood and most frequent morbidities of GDM on fetus and newborn have been studied. Results: Premature NIT-GDM, at term NIT-GDM, premature IT-GDM and at term IT-GDM have been compared. Growth pattern has shown to be consistent with normal growth curves of the paediatric population. A greater weight gain in IT-GDM compared to NIT-GDM infants has been found. A reduced incidence of short term most frequent complications of ODM has been found in our sample, compared to literature reports. Greater values of RBP have been detected in IT-GDM infants (p=0.049). Also, RBP values appear to be positively correlated with parameters of waist circumference at 6 and 12 months and weight at 6 and 12 months (p=0.004; R2 0.19). Lipid metabolism was not found to be modified by insulin treatment, and it was not related to growth parameters at any age. Conclusions: The normality of growth parameters and the low incidence of complications in the short term are likely due to effective implementation of monitoring protocols and prevention in pregnancy and early neonatal period. The laboratory data support other findings according to which RBP can be used to identify those subjects that are at increased risk of developing MS in childhood and that are especially in need for an early nutritional intervention

Identification of phenolic compounds in Equisetum giganteum by LC–ESI-MS/MS and a new approach to total flavonoid quantification

AbstractEquisetum giganteum L., commonly called “giant horsetail”, is an endemic species of Latin America. Its aerial parts have been widely used in ethnomedicine as a diuretic and in herbal medicine and food supplements as a raw material. The phenolic composition of E. giganteum stems was studied by liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detection (LC–DAD) and liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC–ESI-MS/MS), which identified caffeic acid derivatives, flavonoids and styrylpyrones. The most abundant glycosilated flavonoids in this sample were kaempferol derivatives. Other rare phenolic components, namely, quercetin-3-O-(caffeoyl)-glucoside and 3-hydroxyhispidin-3,4′-di-O-glucoside, were reported for first time in the Equisetum genus. An LC-UV method for the simultaneous quantification of flavonoid aglycones in E. giganteum obtained after hydrolysis was developed and validated. The method exhibited excellent linearity for all analytes, with regression coefficients above 0.998, LOD≥0.043μgmL−1, LOQ≥0.158μgmL−1 and recovery rates of 96.89–103.33% and 98.22–102.49% for quercetin and kaempferol, respectively. The relative standard deviation for the intra- and inter-day precision was≤3.75%. The hydrolysis process was optimized by central composite rotational design and response surface analysis. The second-order response models for the aglycones contents were as follows: quercetin (μgg−1)=24.8102+55.2823×HCl+0.776997×Time−7.23852×HCl2−7.46528E−04×Time2−0.229167×HCl×Time; kaempferol (μgg−1)=−9.66755+974.822×HCl+11.8059×Time−130.612×HCl2−0.0125694×Time2 −3.22917×HCl×Time, with estimated optimal conditions of 1.18M HCl and 205min of hydrolysis. The results obtained with these new methods were compared to those from a spectrophotometric assay used to determine the total flavonoids in the Equisetum arvense monograph (Horsetail, British Pharmacopoeia 2011). For all four species analyzed (E. giganteum, E. arvense, E. hyemale and E. bogotense), the calculated aglycone content was higher using the optimized hydrolysis conditions. Additionally, the LC method was more appropriate and specific for quantitative analysis

Oxidative Stress Is Increased in Combined Oral Contraceptives Users and Is Positively Associated with High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein

Information concerning the mechanisms underlying oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation in young healthy women predisposing eventually to future diseases is scarce. We investigated the relationship of oxidative stress and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) in fertile-age women by oral combined contraceptive (OC) use. Caucasian Italian healthy non-obese women (n = 290; 100 OC-users; 190 non-OC-users; mean age 23.2 \ub1 4.7 years) were analyzed. Blood hydroperoxides, as oxidative stress biomarkers, were assessed by Free Oxygen Radical Test (FORT). Serum hsCRP was determined by an ultra-sensitive method (hsCRP). Markedly elevated oxidative stress ( 65400 FORT Units) was found in 77.0% of OC-users and 1.6% of non-OC-users, odds ratio (OR) = 209, 95% CI = 60.9-715.4, p < 0.001. Elevated hsCRP levels 65 2.0 mg/L, considered risky for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), were found in 41.0% of OC-users and 9.5% of non-OC-users, OR = 6.6, 95%CI 3.5-12.4, p < 0.001. Hydroperoxides were strongly positively correlated to hsCRP in all women (rs = 0.622, p < 0.001), in OC-users (rs = 0.442, p < 0.001), and in non-OC-users (rs = 0.426, p < 0.001). Women with hydroperoxides 65 400 FORT Units were eight times as likely to have hsCRP 65 2 mg/L. In non-OC-users only, hydroperoxides values were positively correlated with weight and body mass index, but negatively correlated with red meat, fish and chocolate consumption. Our research is the first finding a strong positive correlation of serum hydroperoxides with hsCRP, a marker of low-grade chronic inflammation, in young healthy women. Further research is needed to elucidate the potential role of these two biomarkers in OC-use associated side-effects, like thromboembolism and other CVDs

Reference intervals for acetylated fetal hemoglobin in healthy newborns

The acetylated fetal hemoglobin (AcHbF) derives from an enzyme-mediated post-translational modification occurring on the N-terminal glycine residues of g-chains. At present, no established data are available on reference intervals for AcHbF in newborns. A total of 92 healthy infants, with gestational age between 37 and 41 weeks were selected for the establishment of AcHbF reference intervals. Blood samples were collected by heel pricking, when collecting routine neonatal screening, and the hemoglobin pattern was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. AcHbF results were then normalized for HbF content in order to account for differences in hemoglobin switch. No difference was found in AcHbF values between genders (P=0.858). AcHbF results were as follow: 12.8\ub10.8% (mean\ub1standard deviation), reference interval: 11.3-14.3%. This finding could facilitate further studies aimed to assess the possible use of AcHbF, for instance as a possible fetal metabolic biomarker during pregnancy

Local delivery of a synthetic endostatin fragment for the treatment of experimental gliomas

OBJECTIVE: Endostatin is an anti-angiogenic agent that blocks matrix-metalloproteinase-2 and inhibits endothelial cell proliferation. Currently, endostatin is available through recombinant technology, which limits its broader use. In this study, a synthetic endostatin fragment (EF) was analyzed to determine its anti-angiogenic properties when locally delivered by controlled-release polymers and to establish its effect as a treatment for experimental gliomas. METHODS: Cytotoxicity of EF against 9L gliosarcoma and F98 glioma was determined in vitro. EF was loaded into polyanhydride-poly-(bis- [carboxyphenoxy-propane]-sebacic-acid) (pCPP:SA) polymers at increasing concentrations. Pharmacokinetics of the EF/polymer formulations were defined in vitro. Anti-angiogenic properties of the EF/polymer formulations were evaluated in the rat-cornea micropocket assay. Toxicity and efficacy of locally delivered EF polymers either alone or combined with systemic bischloroethylnitrosourea (carmustine) were determined in rats intracranially challenged with 9L gliosarcoma. RESULTS: EF showed scarce cytotoxicity against 9L and F98 in vitro. EF/pCPP:SA formulations showed sustained release by day 19. Mean corneal angiogenesis index 20 days after tumor implantation was 4.5 (plus or minus) 0.7 for corneas implanted with 40% EF/pCPP:SA compared with controls (8.5 (plus or minus) 1.3, P = 0.02). Intracranial efficacy studies showed that EF polymers alone did not prolong animal survival. Combination of 40% EF/pCPP:SA polymers with systemic bischloroethylnitrosourea (carmustine) prolonged survival (median survival of 44 d, P = 0.001) and generated 33% long-term survivors. CONCLUSION: Controlled-release polymers can effectively deliver a biologically active EF in a sustained fashion. EF inhibits angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo, and even though EF does not prolong survival as a single agent, it exhibits a synergistic effect when combined with systemic bischloroethylnitrosourea (carmustine) in the intracranial 9L gliosarcoma model

Effects of Bariatric Surgery on COVID-19: a Multicentric Study from a High Incidence Area

Introduction: The favorable effects of bariatric surgery (BS) on overall pulmonary function and obesity-related comorbidities could influence SARS-CoV-2 clinical expression. This has been investigated comparing COVID-19 incidence and clinical course between a cohort of patients submitted to BS and a cohort of candidates for BS during the spring outbreak in Italy. Materials and Methods: From April to August 2020, 594 patients from 6 major bariatric centers in Emilia-Romagna were administered an 87-item telephonic questionnaire. Demographics, COVID-19 incidence, suggestive symptoms, and clinical outcome parameters of operated patients and candidates to BS were compared. The incidence of symptomatic COVID-19 was assessed including the clinical definition of probable case, according to World Health Organization criteria. Results: Three hundred fifty-three operated patients (Op) and 169 candidates for BS (C) were finally included in the statistical analysis. While COVID-19 incidence confirmed by laboratory tests was similar in the two groups (5.7% vs 5.9%), lower incidence of most of COVID-19-related symptoms, such as anosmia (p: 0.046), dysgeusia (p: 0.049), fever with rapid onset (p: 0.046) were recorded among Op patients, resulting in a lower rate of probable cases (14.4% vs 23.7%; p: 0.009). Hospitalization was more frequent in C patients (2.4% vs 0.3%, p: 0.02). One death in each group was reported (0.3% vs 0.6%). Previous pneumonia and malignancies resulted to be associated with symptomatic COVID-19 at univariate and multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Patients submitted to BS seem to develop less severe SARS-CoV-2 infection than subjects suffering from obesity

CD56, HLA-DR, and CD45 recognize a subtype of childhood AML harboring CBFA2T3-GLIS2 fusion transcript

The presence of CBFA2T3‐GLIS2 fusion gene has been identified in childhood Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). In view of the genomic studies indicating a distinct gene expression profile, we evaluated the role of immunophenotyping in characterizing a rare subtype of AML‐CBFA2T3‐GLIS2 rearranged. Immunophenotypic data were obtained by studying a cohort of 20 pediatric CBFA2T3‐GLIS2‐AML and 77 AML patients not carrying the fusion transcript. Enrolled cases were included in the Associazione Italiana di Ematologia Oncologia Pediatrica (AIEOP) AML trials and immunophenotypes were compared using different statistical approaches. By multiple computational procedures, we identified two main core antigens responsible for the identification of the CBFA2T3‐GLIS2‐AML. CD56 showed the highest performance in single marker evaluation (AUC = 0.89) and granted the most accurate prediction when used in combination with HLA‐DR (AUC = 0.97) displaying a 93% sensitivity and 99% specificity. We also observed a weak‐to‐negative CD45 expression, being exceptional in AML. We here provide evidence that the combination of HLA‐DR negativity and intense bright CD56 expression detects a rare and aggressive pediatric AML genetic lesion improving the diagnosis performance

Sub-diffractional, volume-confined polaritons in a natural hyperbolic material: hexagonal boron nitride

Strongly anisotropic media where the principal components of the dielectric tensor have opposite signs are called hyperbolic. Such materials length exhibit unique nanophotonic properties enabled by the highly directional propagation of slow-light modes localized at deeply sub-diffractional scales. While artificial hyperbolic metamaterials have been demonstrated, they suffer from high plasmonic losses and require complex nanofabrication, which in turn induces the size-dependent limitations on optical confinement. The low-loss, mid-infrared, natural hyperbolic material, hexagonal boron nitride is an attractive alternative. We observe four series of multiple (up to seven) 'hyperbolic polariton' modes in boron nitride nanocones in two spectral bands. The resonant modes obey the predicted aspect ratio dependence and exhibit record-high quality factors (Q up to 283) in the strong confinement regime (lambda/86 in the smallest structures). These observations assert hexagonal boron nitride as a promising platform for studying novel regimes of light-matter interactions and nanophotonic device engineering