Differences in Intercellular Communication During Clinical Relapse and Gadolinium-Enhanced MRI in Patients With Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis: A Study of the Composition of Extracellular Vesicles in Cerebrospinal Fluid

This study was designed based on the hypothesis that changes in both the levels and surface marker expression of extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) may be associated with the clinical form, disease activity, and severity of multiple sclerosis (MS). The analyzes were performed on subjects affected by MS or other neurological disorders. EVs, which were isolated by ultracentrifugation of CSF samples, were characterized by flow cytometry. A panel of fluorescent antibodies was used to identify the EV origin: CD4, CCR3, CCR5, CD19, and CD200, as well as isolectin IB4. The Mann–Whitney U-test and Kruskal–Wallis test were used for statistical analyzes. EVs isolated from the CSF were more abundant in patients with progressive MS and in those with a clinically isolated syndrome than in all the other groups examined. Furthermore, an important change in the number of EVs and in their surface marker expression occurred during active phases of MS [i.e., clinical relapses and the presence of enhancing lesions on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)]. In particular, the number of CSF-EVs increased in patients affected by MS during clinical relapse; this finding was associated with a decrease in the number of CD19+/CD200+ (naïve B cells) EVs. These markers are expressed by immature and naïve B lymphocytes, and to the best of our knowledge, this double staining has never been associated with MS, but their reduction has been observed in patients with another type of Th1 cell-mediated autoimmune disease. In contrast, the presence of lesions in the brain and spine on gadolinium-enhanced MRI was associated with an increase in the numbers of CCR3+/CCR5+ (subset of CD8 memory T cells), CD4+/CCR3+ (Th2 cells), and CD4+/CCR5+ (Th1 cells) CSF-EVs. Two points are worth emphasizing: (i) the data obtained in this study confirm that CSF-EVs represent a potentially promising tool to identify biomarkers specific for different phases of MS; and (ii) Considering the role of EVs in intercellular communication, our results provide some insights that improve our understanding of the relationships among some of the cell types that are mainly involved in MS pathogenesis (e.g., lymphocytes, glia, and neurons)

Food, flavouring and feed plant traditions in the Tyrrhenian sector of Basilicata, Italy

BACKGROUND: Research was carried out in the years 2002–2003 into food, flavouring and feed folk traditions of plants in the Tyrrhenian part of the Basilicata region (southern Italy). This area was colonized in ancient times by Greeks. Data was collected through field interviews, especially of farmers. METHODS: Field data were collected through structured interviews. The informants, numbered 49, belonged to families which had strong links with the traditional activities of the area. RESULTS: 61 taxa are cited, belonging to 26 botanical families, amongst which 44 used as food or flavouring and 22 for animal alimentation. Besides 7 taxa are involved in rituals especially connected with agriculture and plant growth. CONCLUSION: The preservation of some rituals especially concerning agricultural plants is noteworthy in the area, together with a certain degree of continuity in food uses. Knowledge and rediscovery of recipes in human and animal diet could represent an economic potential for the area

Coulomb dissociation of O-16 into He-4 and C-12

We measured the Coulomb dissociation of O-16 into He-4 and C-12 within the FAIR Phase-0 program at GSI Helmholtzzentrum fur Schwerionenforschung Darmstadt, Germany. From this we will extract the photon dissociation cross section O-16(alpha,gamma)C-12, which is the time reversed reaction to C-12(alpha,gamma)O-16. With this indirect method, we aim to improve on the accuracy of the experimental data at lower energies than measured so far. The expected low cross section for the Coulomb dissociation reaction and close magnetic rigidity of beam and fragments demand a high precision measurement. Hence, new detector systems were built and radical changes to the (RB)-B-3 setup were necessary to cope with the high-intensity O-16 beam. All tracking detectors were designed to let the unreacted O-16 ions pass, while detecting the C-12 and He-4

Biodiversità e Agri-Cultura: aspetti etici e scientifici

Seminare è meno faticoso che raccogliere. Johann Wolfgang Goethe (1749-1832) 1. Premessa Il progresso scientifico e tecnologico degli ultimi decenni ha avuto un influsso positivo sul nostro modo di vivere, ma ha anche dilatato i nostri bisogni, inducendoci a considerare l’ambiente come se questo fosse capace di adattarsi alle nostre esigenze e non viceversa. Il pericolo e la sfida che oggi l’umanità deve affrontare è che i principali problemi ambientali quali la crescita demografi..

Le frontiere delle biotecnologie e la necessità del dialogo

Io combatto la tua idea, che è diversa dalla mia, ma sono pronto a battermi fino al prezzo della mia vita, perché tu possa esprimerla liberamente. (Voltaire, 1694-1778) Il premio Nobel Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), filosofo e matematico inglese, nel libro La conquista della felicità, affermava che: tutte le condizioni della felicità si trovano realizzate nella vita di un uomo di scienza. Egli ha un’ attività che utilizza al completo le sue capacità ed ottiene risultati che appaiono impo..

Educazione ambientale e scuola: come realizzare un giardino didattico

1. Premessa L’Orto è oggi inteso come “un appezzamento di terreno, di solito cintato, dove si coltivano gli ortaggi”. Il termine deriva dal latino Hortus = recinto, luogo chiuso e coltivato. Il Giardino è invece inteso come un appezzamento di terreno, di solito cintato, adibito a colture erbacee e arboree ornamentali. Il termine deriva dal francese Jardin, in passato Jart e Gard = custodia, recinto (la stessa etimologia si evidenzia nella parola tedesca Garten e in quella inglese Garden). Anc..