Atteggiamenti e comportamenti politici: una proposta tipologica

In the representation of political culture emerging from the Word Values Surveys and conceptualized through the dichotomy materialism/postmaterialism, it was assumed that there is a linear relationship between attitudes and political behavior. This approach has led to not consider other possibilities that could be theoretically relevant, regardless of their empirical consistency. In this article the assumption of a linear relationship is put into questions. The author proposes a typological organization of attitudes and behaviours, in order to problematize the relationship. Finally, after a brief description of different types emerging, the author suggests an aggregation of them, in order to elaborate a critical analysis of the overall typology.In the representation of political culture emerging from the Word Values Surveys and conceptualized through the dichotomy materialism/postmaterialism, it was assumed that there is a linear relationship between attitudes and political behavior. This approach has led to not consider other possibilities that could be theoretically relevant, regardless of their empirical consistency. In this article the assumption of a linear relationship is put into questions. The author proposes a typological organization of attitudes and behaviours, in order to problematize the relationship. Finally, after a brief description of different types emerging, the author suggests an aggregation of them, in order to elaborate a critical analysis of the overall typology

A peptidyl-glucosamine derivative affects IKKα kinase activity in human chondrocytes

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) transcription factor regulates several cell signaling pathways, such as differentiation and inflammation, which are both altered in osteoarthritis. Inhibitor kappaB kinase (IKK)alpha and IKKbeta are kinases involved in the activation of the NF-kappaB transcription factor. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of glucosamine (GlcN), which is administered in the treatment of osteoarthritis, and of its 2-(N-Acetyl)-L-phenylalanylamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucose (NAPA) derivative on IKK kinases and, consequently, on NF-kappaB activation in human chondrocytes. The human chondrosarcoma cell line HTB-94 and human primary chondrocytes were stimulated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha after pre-treatment with GlcN or NAPA. Gene mRNA expression level was evaluated by real-time PCR. Inhibitor kappaB protein (IkappaB)alpha phosphorylation and p65 nuclear re-localization were analyzed by Western blotting; IKKalpha nuclear re-localization was also investigated by immunocytochemistry and Western blotting. IKK kinase activity was studied by in vitro kinase assay. After TNFalpha stimulation, the mRNA expression level of some of the genes under NF-kappaB control, such as interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8, increased, while treatment with GlcN and NAPA reverted the effect. We investigated the possibility that GlcN and NAPA inhibit IKK kinase activity and found that NAPA inhibits the IKKalpha kinase activity, whereas GlcN does not. Interestingly, both GlcN and NAPA inhibit IKKalpha nuclear re-localization. Our results demonstrate that glucosamine and its peptidyl derivative can interfere with NF-kappaB signaling pathway by inhibiting IKKalpha activity in human chondrocytes. However, the mechanism of action of the two molecules is not completely overlapping. While NAPA can both specifically inhibit the IKKalpha kinase activity and IKKalpha nuclear re-localization, GlcN only acts on IKKalpha nuclear re-localization

The Retinoblastoma Family Member p107 Binds to B-MYB and Suppresses Its Autoregulatory Activity *

It was recently reported that B-MYB can overcome p107-induced growth arrest. Here we show that B-MYB autoregulation of its own transcription is specifically suppressed by p107 and transient transfection assays with p107 deletion constructs determined that the carboxyl terminus of the protein, containing the major pocket region, was associated with inhibition of B-MYB-dependent transactivation. Consistent with these results, co-immunoprecipitation studies showed that p107 interacted in vivo with B-MYB through its pocket and carboxyl terminus domain. Thus, B-MYB-dependent promotion of cell proliferation and gene transactivation might be specifically repressed by the growth suppressor p107 through direct interaction with B-MYB

Interventional radiology of the thyroid gland : critical review and state of the art

Thyroid nodules are a common incidental finding during a routinely ultrasound (US) exam unrelated to the thyroid gland in the healthy adult population with a prevalence of 20-76%. As treated before with surgery, in the last years new minimally invasive techniques have been developed as an alternative to surgery. The aim of this review, based on newly revised guidelines, is to provide some information regarding the basic principles, indications, materials, techniques, and results of mini-invasive procedures or treatments for thyroid nodules. We performed a narrative review including both newest and representative papers and guidelines based on the different procedures of ablation techniques developed in the last years for the diagnosis and the treatment of thyroid nodules. All examined papers referred very good results in term of volume nodule reduction, improvement in related symptoms and cosmetic problems, with a very low rate of complications and side effects for all the minimally invasive technique analyzed. Obviously, some differents between technique based on different kind of thyroid nodules and different indication were found. In conclusion, many thyroid nodules nowadays could be treated thanks to the advent of new mini-invasive technique that are less expensive and present a lower risk of major complications and side effects compared to surgery