LPS, Oleuropein and Blueberry extracts affect the survival, morphology and Phosphoinositide signalling in stimulated human endothelial cells

Endothelial cells (EC) act as leading actors in angiogenesis. Understanding the complex network of signal transduction pathways which regulate angiogenesis might offer insights in the regulation of normal and pathological events, including tumours, vascular, inflammatory and immune diseases. The effects of olive oil and of Blueberry extracts upon the phosphoinositide (PI)-specific phospholipase C (PLC) enzymes were evaluated both in quiescent and inflammatory stimulated human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC) using molecular biology (multiliquid bioanalysis) and immunofluorescence techniques. Oleuropein significantly increased the number of surviving HUVEC compared to untreated controls, suggesting that it favours the survival and proliferation of EC. Our results suggest that Oleuropein might be useful to induce EC proliferation, an important event during angiogenesis, with special regard to wound healing. Blueberry extracts increased the number of surviving HUVEC, although the comparison to untreated controls did not result statistically significant. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration significantly reduced the number of live HUVEC. LPS can also modify the expression of selected PLC genes. Adding Blueberry extracts to LPS treated HUVEC cultures did not significantly modify the variations of PLC expression induced by LPS. Oleuropein increased or reduced the expression of PLC genes, and statistically significant results were identified for selected PLC isoforms. Oleuropein also modified the effects of LPS upon PLC genes\u2019 expression. Thus, our results corroborate the hypothesis that Oleuropein owns anti-inflammatory activity. The intracellular localization of PLC enzymes was modified by the different treatments we used. Podosome-like structures were observed in differently LPS treated HUVEC

A Multiparametric Approach Based on NT-proBNP, ST2, and Galectin3 for Stratifying One Year Prognosis of Chronic Heart Failure Outpatients

Galectin-3 and ST2 are emerging biomarkers involved in myocardial fibrosis. We evaluate the relevance of a multiparametric biomarker approach based on increased serum levels of NT-proBNP, galectin-3, and ST2 in stratifying the prognosis of chronic heart failure (CHF) outpatients. In 315 CHF outpatients in stable clinical condition clinical and echocardiographic evaluations were performed. Routine chemistry and serum levels of NT-proBNP, galectin-3, and ST2 were also assessed. During a 12 month follow-up, cardiovascular death, and/or heart failure (HF) occurred in 64 patients. The presence of NT-proBNP, galectin-3, and ST2 were higher than the recommended cutoffs and were all associated with events at univariate Cox regression analysis, as well as in a multivariate analysis including the three biomarkers. When a score based on the number of biomarkers above the recommended cut-offs was used (in a range of 0–3), it was associated with events both with respect to the univariate (HR 2.96, 95% CI 2.21–3.95, p < 0.001, C-index 0.78) and the multivariate (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.06–2.17, p: 0.023, C-index 0.87) analyses, after correction for the variables of a reference model. Our results suggest that an easy prognostic approach based on the combination of three biomarkers, although with partially-overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms, is able to identify patients with the highest risk of heart failure progression

Nonfinancial risk disclosure: The “state of the art” of Italian companies

This research represents a preliminary analysis of the nonfinancial risk disclosure and the first after the introduction of the European directive. Using a content analysis, the level of nonfinancial risk disclosure after the introduction of the Directive 2014/95/EU on nonfinancial information has been investigated. Moreover, in order to understand the effectiveness of nonfinancial risk management, the outlook orientation (past, present, and future) and the approach to risk (positive, negative, and neutral) have been examined. The results show how the level of nonfinancial risk disclosure in Italian companies is better than before the introduction of the directive and also still based on the past and present perspective, rather than the future one

Niccolò D'Anastasio and His Scrittura Doppia Ridotta Scienza

The Origins Of Accounting Culture aim at studying the origins of the accounting culture in Venice, with a specific focus on accounting education. The period covered by the work ranges from Luca Pacioli to the foundation (in 1868) of the Royal Advanced School of Commerce (Regia Scuola Superiore di Commercio), that in 2018 is celebrating its 150 anniversary as Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. Ever since the Middle Ages, Venice was home of a number of favourable circumstances that have been accumulating over the years. As a trading city par excellence, Venice allowed the spreading of the bookkeeping at first among firms and then in the public administration that was much in need of sophisticated accounting principles for the purpose of controlling its activities. Venice was among the first cities to implement Gutenberg print method and it quickly became the most important city in the world in the publishing industry, allowing printing and spreading the first handbooks about double-entry bookkeeping and merchant studies. The Origins Of Accounting Culture goes beyond the study of Luca Pacioli and tackles in a more organic and holistic way the social and economic conditions that allowed the accounting culture to spread in Venice. This book will be a vital resource to academics and researchers in the fields of Accounting, Accounting History, Economic Development and related disciplines

A fuzzy logic expert system for the measurement of Corporate Social Responsibility identity

The aim of this study is to propose a method to measure the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) identity (Otubanjo, 2013) of a firm. Using this method, based on a fuzzy logic expert system, it is possible to generate a comprehensive rating for the assessment of the sustainability of a firm. In fact, to ensure that a firm is CSR-compliant, it is important to express CSR principles in terms of measurable variables. Up to now, measurement has been hampered by a lack of clarity in theoretical frameworks and empirical methods for the CSR construct

A fuzzy logic expert system for the measurement of Corporate Social Responsibility identity

The aim of this study is to propose a method to measure the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) identity (Otubanjo, 2013) of a firm. Using this method, based on a fuzzy logic expert system, it is possible to generate a comprehensive rating for the assessment of the sustainability of a firm. In fact, to ensure that a firm is CSR-compliant, it is important to express CSR principles in terms of measurable variables. Up to now, measurement has been hampered by a lack of clarity in theoretical frameworks and empirical methods for the CSR construct