Un romanzo in un endecasillabo?

Durante il corso di Letteratura italiana (anno 2017/18), dedicato alla Commedia di Dante, gli studenti sono stati invitati a cimentarsi nell’impresa di concentrare un romanzo nello spazio conchiuso di un endecasillabo o più terzine dantesche – o, in alternativa, nella misura di un tweet: si trattava (in un certo senso) di emulare la capacità del sommo poeta di distillare un’intera esistenza (Paolo e Francesca, Ulisse, Conte Ugolino…) nel volgere di poche terzine. Una giuria di ‘addetti ai lavori’ ha selezionato i migliori componimenti – sorvolando, di tanto in tanto, su alcune infrazioni creative rispetto alle misure canoniche

Adrenal stem cell niches are located between adrenal and renal capsules

The human adrenal glands arise around the 4th week of gestation and during the intrauterine life produce many substances that are responsible for the maintenance of fetal homeostasis and organ maturation. Stem cell niches represent the microenvironment suitable for life and replication of adrenal stem cells. Adrenal gland stem cells have the capacity to self-renew and generate functional differentiated daughter cells that replenish lost cells. Morphologically the adrenal stem cells appeared as small, polymorphic cells, closed together, with basophilic nucleus, located between adrenal and renal capsules. This study was mainly based on a morphological and immunohistochemical approach, particularly on characterization and localization of the multiple stem/progenitor cells that contribute to the development of the human adrenal gland. Proceedings of the 2nd International Course on Perinatal Pathology (part of the 11th International Workshop on Neonatology · October 26th-31st, 2015) · Cagliari (Italy) · October 31st, 2015 · Stem cells: present and future Guest Editors: Gavino Faa, Vassilios Fanos, Antonio Giordan

Stem progenitor cells in the human pancreas

<p>Early pancreas development, given its complexity, is generally considered as a paradigm for branching morphogenesis and for the development of two organs in one: the Langherans islets, programmed to secrete hormones into the bloodstream, and the exocrine pancreas compartment, composed of two major cell types, acinar and ductal cells, devoid to secrete digestive enzymes into the duodenum through a branched network of ducts. Exocrine and endocrine pancreas are generally presumed to originate from a common multi-lineage progenitor cell (MPC), emerging within the definitive endoderm surrounding the posterior foregut. Bipotential precursors committed to the pancreatic fate originate the MPC, that are considered the progenitors of all pancreatic cells operating in the mature pancreas, including acinar, ductal, endocrine and stromal cell types. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) are able to differentiate into several cell types, including acinary cells, duct cells and islet cells, depending on certain transcription factors, which function in a coordinated way during pancreas development. The epidemiological entity of pancreatic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and issues regarding the management of the diabetic patient have constantly stimulated the great current interest aimed at regenerative pancreatic medicine. Several studies in rats have demonstrated the existence of stem/progenitor cells in the adult pancreas and have clarified the mechanism by which pancreatic stem cells differentiate into acinar, ductal and endocrine cells. In this context, the cellular microenvironment called “niche” plays a major role in inducing differentiation of stem/progenitor cells by adequate cellular signals. Within the niche, undifferentiated pluripotent cells give rise to asymmetrically dividing daughter cells. The main purpose of this work was to identify stem cells and progenitor cells in the human pancreas during intrauterine development in relation to what is already known in the adult pancreas and in experimental models.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Proceedings of the 2^nd International Course on Perinatal Pathology </strong><strong>(part of the 11^th International Workshop on Neonatology · October 26^th-31^st, 2015) · Cagliari (Italy) · October 31^st, 2015 · <em>Stem cells: present and future </em></strong><br /><strong>Guest Editors: Gavino Faa, Vassilios Fanos, Antonio Giordano</strong></p

The small intestinal mucosa and its stem cells

In the first part of this review a brief summary of the embryology and histology of the gastrointestinal tract is provided. In the second part intestinal stem cells (ISCs) are discussed. Several signaling pathways play a crucial role in the crypt base in the regulation of ISC proliferation and self-renewal; Wnt, Notch, BMP, Ephrin, JAK/STAT1, PTEN, AKT, PI3K and many more. Numerous investigators are involved in studying the location, number, and behavior of ISCs within the base of the intestinal crypts. Several markers are espressed by ISCs. Among these, Leucine-rich-repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor-5 (Lgr5), Sox9, Prominin-1, DCAMKL-1, EphB2, p-PTEN, p-AKT, Fgfr3, m-TER, and CD44. Stem cell therapy has shown promise for the treatment of some diseases characterized by tissue damage with ischemic and inflammatory lesions like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Proceedings of the 2nd International Course on Perinatal Pathology (part of the 11th International Workshop on Neonatology · October 26th-31st, 2015) · Cagliari (Italy) · October 31st, 2015 · Stem cells: present and future Guest Editors: Gavino Faa, Vassilios Fanos, Antonio Giordan