Scambi marittimi agli albori della civiltà

Il contributo mira a presentare una sintesi delle ricerche svolte circa la storia dei commerci marittimi nel Golfo Persico dalla Preistoria all'età di Akkad. Le informazioni in nostro possesso sono date dalle indagini archeologiche condotte in varie aree del Vicino Oriente (Turchia, Egitto, Iraq, Siria, Valle dell'Indo, Bahrein) e dall'iconografia dei sigilli.The paper deals with the history of the most ancient navigation in the Gulf from Prehistory to the end of III millennium. All the informations we have are taken from archaeological investigations and iconography from seals

Role of p53 and CDKN2A Inactivation in Human Squamous Cell Carcinomas

p53 tumor suppressor gene is the most commonly mutated gene in human and mouse cancers. Disruption of the p53 and Rb pathways is a fundamental trend of most human cancer cells. Inactivation of CDKN2A can lead to deregulation of these two pathways. Genetic abnormalities in CDKN2A gene have been well documented in human melanoma but their involvement in human nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC) and in particular in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is less clear. Several studies have shown that human SCCs harbour unique mutations in the p53 gene as well as inactivation of the CDKN2A gene. While mutations in the p53 gene are induced by UV radiation and represent tumor initiating events, the majority of alterations detected in the CDKN2A gene do not appear to be UV-dependent. In conclusion, in addition to p53 mutations, silencing of the CDKN2A gene might play a significant role in SCC development

The role of Methylglyoxal in the impairment of angiogenic process in endothelial cells

Much of the morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes mellitus (DM) reflects its deleterious effect on micro- and macro-circulation. DM impairs physiological angiogenesis, leading to long-term complications, by molecular mechanisms that are not fully understood. The generation of Advanced Glycation End-products (AGEs) has an important role in the development of hyperglycemia-induced endothelial damage. Moreover, previous evidence demonstrated that exposure of endothelial cells to hyperglycemia induces sustained activation of the transcription factor nuclear-κB (NF-κB), at least in part by the AGEs/RAGE pathways, leading to accelerated vascular disease. One of the main precursors of AGEs in endothelial cells is Methylglyoxal (MGO), a highly reactive dycarbonyl detoxified by the Glyoxalase System, of which Glyoxalase 1 (Glo1) is the rate limiting enzyme. In this study, we aim at evaluating the effect of MGO on the angiogenic ability of aortic endothelial cells isolated from Glo1 knock-down mice (Glo1KD MAECs) and their WT littermates (WT MAECs). Glo1KD MAECs show a reduced expression of Glo1 that is paralleled to an increase of MGO accumulation. This leads to an impairment of angiogenic ability of Glo1KD MAECs characterized by a reduced proliferation, migration and invasion. Both protein and mRNA levels of the antiangiogenic HoxA5 gene are increased in Glo1KD MAECs compared to WT MAECs. Interestingly, HoxA5 silencing, is able to improve migration and invasion of Glo1KD MAECs. Moreover, MGO accumulation in Glo1KD MAECs causes the overexpression of NF-κB-p65 that is also associated to a higher cytoplasmic and nuclear protein levels. Interestingly, there is an increased binding of NF-κB-p65 to HoxA5 promoter in Glo1KD MAECs compared to WT MAECs, and NF-κB inhibition results in the reduction of HoxA5 expression. This study demonstrates that, through NF-κB-p65 activation, high levels of MGO impair angiogenic ability of MAECs via a mechanism involving the antiangiogenic factor HoxA5. Further investigations will allow to identify new strategies for the prevention and treatment of microvascular complications associated to diabetes

President Obama’s Humble Face: An Authentic or a Socially Desirable Posturing? A Study on Reactions to Obama’s Autobiographical Self-Disclosures

Referring to the mainstream studies based on the personalization’s hypothesis, which positively evaluates signals of dominance shown by leaders, the analysis of Obama’s rhetoric stays a relevant exception. His risky recall, during his political talks, of his social difficulties as a child of a mixed couple was in fact one of the more surprising aspects of his success. Nevertheless, reactions to his autobiographical sharing were scarcely explored. Based on the idea that these self-disclosures signal his responsivity toward the audience of low social condition and can, therefore, be defined as a sign of humility, this research aims to test if coherence between Obama’s words and his facial expressions of contempt, due to the seriousness of social injustices endured in his childhood, may influence the receivers’ perception of such unexpected communication. Before reading a brief autobiographical sharing taken from a “Back-to-school” speech, a highly ritualized monolog the US President addresses each year to students, 175 Italian participants were presented with a photo of Obama displaying either an expression of contempt (taken from the video of the speech) or a neutral expression. Comparisons between self-assessments of perceptions and reactions of participants assigned to the two experimental conditions show that a facial expression of contempt, coherent with words describing his school difficulties, has been crucial for perceiving this humble political discourse as authentic and not as a simple socially desirable posturing. More studies seem to be needed, however, to understand how humble speech could enhance the positive face of leaders or backfire against them

CONTROLLO GLICOMETABOLICO E ABITUDINI ALIMENTARI IN ADOLESCENTI CON DIABETE MELLITO TIPO 1

Background: Gli studi che hanno valutato le abitudini alimentari dei bambini e adolescenti con diabete, hanno riportato una percentuale di assunzione di carboidrati più bassa di quella minima raccomandata spesso associata ad un maggiore consumo di grassi e ad una ridotta assunzione di fibre . Alcuni studi che hanno valutato il rapporto tra composizione della dieta e controllo glicometabolico in soggetti con diabete tipo 1, hanno evidenziato che una dieta ricca di grassi e povera di fibre è associata ad un peggior controllo glicometabolico. Obiettivo: Valutare in adolescenti affetti da diabete mellito tipo 1, con diverso grado di controllo metabolico, la frequenza di consumo settimanale dei vari gruppi di alimenti e l’eventuale correlazione di questa con i valori di emoglobina glicosilata ( HbA1c). Metodo: In 43 soggetti (M/F :22/21; età 11-14 anni) suddivisi in due gruppi in rapporto al valore mediano di HbA1c ( 8,45%), sono stati raccolti i dati relativi ai consumi alimentari degli ultimi tre mesi attraverso un questionario di frequenza di consumo ed è stata considerata la frequenza di scelte alimentari settimanali per gruppo di alimenti. Risultati I soggetti con miglior controllo glicometabolico (HbA1c< 8,45%) presentavano una maggiore frequenza di consumo settimanale dei seguenti gruppi di alimenti: frutta( p<0,0001) , ortaggi (p=0,017) e legumi ( p=0,03). I soggetti con peggior controllo glicometabolico ( HbA1c > 8,45%) consumavano con maggiore frequenza alimenti appartenenti al gruppo di salumi (p=0,007), formaggi (p=0,02) e dolci /bevande zuccherate (p=0,0065). I valori di HbA1c erano inversamente correlati alla frequenza di consumo settimanale di frutta ((r – 0,65 p< 0,0001) e a quello di ortaggi( r – 0,32 p < 0,017) e direttamente correlati alla frequenza settimanale di consumo di alimenti appartenenti ai gruppi di salumi ( r 0,37 p< 0,007). Conclusioni: Il controllo glicometabolico in adolescenti con diabete tipo 1 è influenzato dalla frequenza di consumo settimanale di alimenti ricchi di fibre e di grassi animali. I principi di una san

Efficacy of Bacillus clausii spores in the prevention of recurrent respiratory infections in children: a pilot study

Probiotic milk has been previously demonstrated to reduce the number of respiratory infections (RI) among children attending day care centres. Thus, this pilot study was aimed to assess the efficacy and the safety of 3 month treatment with Bacillus clausii in the prevention of recurrent respiratory infections (RRI) in children. Eighty children with RRI were studied: 40 of them were randomly treated with B. clausii for 3 months, and followed up for further 3 months; 40 were included in the control group during the same period. Children treated with B. clausii had shorter duration of RI in comparison with the control group both during the treatment phase (mean 11.7 days vs 14.37; p=0.037) and the follow-up period (mean 6.6 days vs 10.92; p=0.049). This effect was evident also in allergic children during the follow-up. In conclusion, this pilot study provides the first preliminary evidence that B. clausii may exert a significant and persistent impact on RI in children and is safe and well tolerated

Cr(III) Complexes Bearing a β-Ketoimine Ligand for Olefin Polymerization: Are There Differences between Coordinative and Covalent Bonding?

β-ketoimines are extensively applied for the synthesis of organometallic complexes intended as (pre)catalysts for a variety of chemical transformations. We were interested in the synthesis of two Cr complexes bearing a simple bidentate β-ketoimine (L), with different ligand binding modes, as well as their application as a precatalyst in the polymerization of olefins. Complex 1 (L2CrCl3) was obtained by direct reaction of L with CrCl3(THF)3, while, for the synthesis of complex 2 (LCrCl2), the ligand was first deprotonated with nBuLi, giving the β-ketoiminato ligand L─Li+, and then reacted with CrCl3(THF)3. Characterization of the complexes proved that the Cr(III) ion is coordinatively bonded to L in 1, while it is covalently bonded to L in 2. The complexes were then used as precatalysts for the polymerization of ethylene and various cyclic olefins. Upon activation with methylaluminoxane, both the complexes exhibited poor activity in the polymerization of ethylene, whilst they exhibit good productivity in the polymerization of cyclic olefins, affording semicrystalline oligomers, without a significant difference between 1 and 2. To gain more insight, we investigated the reaction of the complexes with the Al-cocatalyst by IR and UV-Vis spectroscopies. The results proved that, in case of 1, the Al-activator deprotonates the ligand, bringing to the formation of an active species analogous to that of 2

Increased demand for FAD synthesis in differentiated and stem pancreatic cancer cells is accomplished by modulating FLAD1 gene expression: the inhibitory effect of Chicago Sky Blue

FLAD1, along with its FAD synthase (FADS, EC 2.7.7.2) product, is crucial for flavin homeostasis and, due to its role in the mitochondrial respiratory chain and nuclear epigenetics, is closely related to cellular metabolism. Therefore, it is not surprising that it could be correlated with cancer. To our knowledge, no previous study has investigated FLAD1 prognostic significance in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Thus, in the present work, the FAD synthesis process was evaluated in two PDAC cell lines: (a) PANC‐1‐ and PANC‐1‐derived cancer stem cells (CSCs), presenting the R273H mutation in the oncosuppressor p53, and (b) MiaPaca2 and MiaPaca2‐derived CSCs, presenting the R248W mutation in p53. As a control, HPDE cells expressing wt‐p53 were used. FADS expression/activity increase was found with malignancy and even more with stemness. An increased FAD synthesis rate in cancer cell lines is presumably demanded by the increase in the FAD‐dependent lysine demethylase 1 protein amount as well as by the increased expression levels of the flavoprotein subunit of complex II of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, namely succinate dehydrogenase. With the aim of proposing FADS as a novel target for cancer therapy, the inhibitory effect of Chicago Sky Blue on FADS enzymatic activity was tested on the recombinant 6His‐hFADS2 (IC50 = 1.2 μm) and PANC‐1‐derived CSCs' lysate (IC50 = 2–10 μm). This molecule was found effective in inhibiting the growth of PANC‐1 and even more of its derived CSC line, thus assessing its role as a potential chemotherapeutic drug