Avigliana: Area Riva

Il testo presenta la strategia di rinnovamento urbano della città di Avigliana e l'iniziativa del concorso di progettazione per un'area centrale da trasformare in un parco pubblico

Isothiazole derivatives as antiviral agents

We recently described the synthesis and antiviral activity of the compounds 5-phenyl-3-(4-cyano-5-phenylisothiazol-3-yl) disulphanyl-4-isothiazole-carbonitrile and S-(4-cyano-5-phenylisothiazol-3-yl)- O-ethyl thiocarbonate, which were found to be effective against both HIV-1 (IIIB) and HIV-2 (ROD). We have now evaluated these compounds against both RNA and DNA viruses, obtaining high selectivity indexes for poliovirus 1 (SI: 223 and 828, respectively) and Echovirus 9 (SI: 334 and 200, respectively). In our previous studies, 3-methylthio-5-(4- OBn-phenyl)-4-isothiazolecarbo-nitrile was found to exhibit a broad spectrum of action against picornaviruses, we therefore selected this compound and S-(4-cyano-5-phenylisothiazol-3-yl)- O-ethyl thiocarbonate as the model for the synthesis of a new isothiazole derivative, S-[4-cyano-5-(4- OBn-phenyl)isothiazol-3-yl]- O-ethyl thiocarbonate. This compound was evaluated against picornaviruses, measles virus, HIV-1 (IIIB) and HIV-2 (ROD), and some DNA viruses (adenovirus type 2 and herpes simplex virus type 1). The compound was shown to be active against rhinoviruses 2, 39, 86 and 89, Coxsackie B1 and measles virus

EBV-specific CD8 T lymphocytes and B cells during glatiramer acetate therapy in patients with MS

OBJECTIVE: Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been associated with clinical activity and risk of developing MS. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of glatiramer acetate (GA) therapy on EBV-specific immune responses and disease course. METHODS: We characterized EBV-specific CD8 T lymphocytes and B cells during disease-modifying treatments in 2 groups of patients with MS. We designed a 2-pronged approach consisting of a cross-sectional study (39 untreated patients, 38 patients who had undergone 12 months of GA treatment, and 48 healthy donors compatible for age and sex with the patients with MS) and a 12-month longitudinal study (35 patients treated with GA). CD8 EBV-specific T cells and B lymphocytes were studied using pentamers and multiparametric flow cytometry. RESULTS: We find that treatment with GA enhances viral recognition by inducing an increased number of circulating virus-specific CD8 T cells (p = 0.0043) and by relieving their features of exhaustion (p = 0.0053) and senescence (p < 0.0001, p = 0.0001). B cells, phenotypically and numerically tracked along the 1-year follow-up study, show a steady decrease in memory B-cell frequencies (p = 0.025), paralleled by an increase of the naive B subset. CONCLUSION: GA therapy acts as a disease-modifying therapy restoring homeostasis in the immune system, including anti-EBV responses

A network study to differentiate suicide attempt risk profiles in male and female patients with major depressive disorder

Suicide attempts are a possible consequence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), although their prevalence varies across different epidemiological studies. Suicide attempt is a significant predictor of death by suicide, highlighting its importance in understanding and preventing tragic outcomes. Researchers are increasingly recognizing the need to study the differences between males and females, as several distinctions emerge in terms of the characteristics, types and motivations of suicide attempts. These differences emphasize the importance of considering gender-specific factors in the study of suicide attempts and developing tailored prevention strategies. We conducted a network analysis to represent and investigate which among multiple neurocognitive, psychosocial, demographic and affective variables may prove to be a reliable predictor for identifying the 'suicide attempt risk' (SAR) in a sample of 81 adults who met DSM-5 criteria for MDD. Network analysis resulted in differences between males and females regarding the variables that were going to interact and predict the SAR; in particular, for males, there is a stronger link toward psychosocial aspects, while for females, the neurocognitive domain is more relevant in its mnestic subcomponents. Network analysis allowed us to describe otherwise less obvious differences in the risk profiles of males and females that attempted to take their own lives. Different neurocognitive and psychosocial variables and different interactions between them predict the probability of suicide attempt unique to male and female patients

Tectono-Sedimentary Cenozoic Evolution of the El Habt and Ouezzane Tectonic Units (External Rif, Morocco)

An interdisciplinary study based on lithostratigraphic, biostratigraphic, petrographic and mineralogical analyses has been performed in order to establish the Cenozoic tectono-sedimentary evolution of the El Habt and Ouezzane Tectonic Units (External Intrarif Subzone, External Rif, Morocco). The reconstructed record allowed identification of the depositional architecture and related sedimentary processes of the considered units. The Cenozoic successions were biochronologically defined allowing, at the same time, identification of unconformities and associated stratigraphic gaps. The presence of five unconformities allowed for the definition of the main stratigraphic units arranged in a regressive trend: (1) lower Paleocene interval (Danian p.p.) assigned to a deep basin; (2) Eocene interval (lower Ypresian-lower Bartonian p.p.) from a deep basin to an external carbonate-siliceous platform; (3) lower Rupelian-upper Chattian p.p. interval deposited on unstable slope with turbidite channels passing upward to an external siliciclastic platform; (4) Burdigalian p.p. interval from a slope; (5) Langhian-Serravallian p.p. interval from slope to external platform realms. The petrography of the arenites and calcarenites allowed for the identification of the supplies derived from erosion of a recycled orogen (transitional and quartzose subtypes). The clay-mineralogy analysis indicates an unroofing (first erosion of Cretaceous terrains followed by upper Jurassic rocks) always accomplished by erosion of Cenozoic terrains. Several tectofacies checked in some stratigraphic intervals seem to indicate the beginning of deformation of the basement generating gentle folds and first activation of blind thrusts, mainly during the Paleogene. A preorogenic tectonic framework is considered as responseto the generalized tectonic inversion (from extension to compression) as frequently registered in the central-western peri-Mediterranean areas. The large volumes of reworked terrigeneous supply during the latest Oligocene-Miocene p.p. indicates the beginningsof the synorogenic sedimentation (foredeep stage of the basins) controlled by active tectonics.Research Project CGL2016-75679-P (Spanish Ministry of Education and Science); Research Groups, Projects of the Generalitat Valenciana, Alicante University (CTMA-IGA); Grants from the University of Urbino Carlo Bo (M. Tramontana)