Lepton Polarization Asymmetry in B l l(bar) decays in R-parity violating Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model

We study the implication of R-parity violating Rp Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model (MSSM) model in lepton polarization asymmetry ALP in B l l(bar) decays . The analysis show that the ALP is significant in a certain phenomenological parametric region of Yukawa couplings. We have also placed indirect bounds on Lambda' lambda couplings as obtained from B t t(bar).Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures Changes of notation in Eq(8-11,17-19),Eq.20 adde

Trigeminocardiac reflex by mandibular extension on rat pial microcirculation: Role of nitric oxide

In the present study we have extended our previous findings about the effects of 10 minutes of passive mandibular extension in anesthetized Wistar rats. By prolonging the observation time to 3 hours, we showed that 10 minutes mandibular extension caused a significant reduction of the mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate respect to baseline values, which persisted up to 160 minutes after mandibular extension. These effects were accompanied by a characteristic biphasic response of pial arterioles: during mandibular extension, pial arterioles constricted and after mandibular extension dilated for the whole observation period. Interestingly, the administration of the opioid receptor antagonist naloxone abolished the vasoconstriction observed during mandibular extension, while the administration of Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, abolished the vasodilation observed after mandibular extension. Either drug did not affect the reduction of mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate induced by mandibular extension. By qRT-PCR, we also showed that neuronal nitric oxide synthase gene expression was significantly increased compared with baseline conditions during and after mandibular extension and endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene expression markedly increased at 2 hours after mandibular extension. Finally, western blotting detected a significant increase in neuronal and endothelial nitric oxide synthase protein expression. In conclusion mandibular extension caused complex effects on pial microcirculation involving opioid receptor activation and nitric oxide release by both neurons and endothelial vascular cells at different times

Effects of physical exercise associated with a diet enriched with natural antioxidants on cerebral hypoperfusion and reperfusion injury in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension. The reduction in the bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) causes endothelial dysfunction, altering the functions of cerebral blood vessels. Physical exercise and intake of antioxidants improve the redox state, increasing the vascular NO production and/or the decrease in NO scavenging by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The present study was aimed at assessing the effects of physical exercise associated with a diet enriched with antioxidants from the Annurca apple in preventing the microvascular damage due to cerebral hypoperfusion and reperfusion injury in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The rat pial microcirculation was investigated by intravital fluorescence microscopy through a parietal closed cranial window. As expected, SHRs subjected to physical exercise or an antioxidants-enriched diet showed a reduction of microvascular permeability, ROS formation, and leukocyte adhesion to venular walls, with a major effect of the antioxidants-enriched diet, when compared to untreated SHRs. Moreover, capillary perfusion was preserved by both treatments in comparison with untreated SHRs. Unexpectedly, the combined treatments did not induce higher effects than the single treatment. In conclusion, our results support the efficacy of physical activity or antioxidant supplement in reducing the microvascular alterations due to hypertension and ascribe to an antioxidants-enriched diet effective microvascular protection in SHRs

Immunological pattern alteration in shoe, hide, and leather industry workers exposed to exavalent chromium

The aim of this work was to assess the effects of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] on shoe, leather, and hide industry workers, based on the assumption that Cr(VI) can behave as an environmental immunological "stressor." The immunological patterns of 84 male subjects were studied in relation to Cr(VI) hematic and urinary levels. Cr(VI) was measured through atomic absorption. Lymphocyte subsets, mitogen-mediated lymphocyte-proliferation, cytokine levels, and natural killer (NK) cytotoxic activity were also assayed. RESULTS: The urinary levels of the total amount of Cr(VI) were significantly higher in a subgroup of exposed subjects (group B) than in the control or in the lower exposed (group A). In group B, Cr(VI) caused a decrease in the density of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and a increase of IL-6. Cr(VI) did not modify NK-mediated cytotoxicity, the plasmatic levels of inflammatory cytokines and related soluble receptors, and prostaglandin levels, while it tended to increase lymphocyte sensitivity to mitogens and the production of immunomodulant cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-4, and IL-2). The experimental addition of Cr(VI) to the in vitro lymphocyte culture determined a significant inhibition of phagocytosis percentage, index, and killing percentage. These effects were neutralized by exogenous IFN-gamma. Cr(VI) could represent an environmental immunological stressor whose effects can be evaluated through laboratory surveys. The lymphocyte mitogen-induced proliferation, GR receptor on PBMC, and IL-6 plasma levels may represent a discriminating element between Cr(VI)-induced stress and other kinds of stress

Hadron detection with a dual-readout fiber calorimeter

In this paper, we describe measurements of the response functions of a fiber-based dual- readout calorimeter for pions, protons and multiparticle "jets" with energies in the range from 10 to 180 GeV. The calorimeter uses lead as absorber material and has a total mass of 1350 kg. It is complemented by leakage counters made of scintillating plastic, with a total mass of 500 kg. The effects of these leakage counters on the calorimeter performance are studied as well. In a separate section, we investigate and compare different methods to measure the energy resolution of a calorimeter. Using only the signals provided by the calorimeter, we demonstrate that our dual-readout calorimeter, calibrated with electrons, is able to reconstruct the energy of proton and pion beam particles to within a few percent at all energies. The fractional widths of the signal distributions for these particles (sigma/E) scale with the beam energy as 30%/sqrt(E), without any additional contributing terms

Bronchodilating effects of extrafine beclometasone dipropionate and formoterol fumarate via pressurized metered dose inhaler in asthmatic children

Introduction: in asthmatic children older than 5 years, the GINA guidelines 2012 update recommend to add inhaled long-acting b2- agonists (LABA) when the disease is not adequately controlled with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) alone. Controlled studies have shown that fixed combination therapies are as effective as giving each drug separately and may increase patients’ compliance. A paediatric extrafine fixed combination of beclometasone dipropionate (BDP) and formoterol fumarate (FF) via pressurized metered dose inhaler (pMDI) containing 50mg of BDP and 6mg of FF per actuation (CHF1535) was developed by Chiesi Farmaceutici S.p.A. (Parma, Italy)

In vitro evaluation of antiviral and virucidal activity of a high molecular weight hyaluronic acid.

BACKGROUND: hyaluronic acid (HA), a non-sulphated glycosaminoglycan, is present in synovial fluid, vitreous humour serum and many connective tissues. Pharmaceutical preparations of HA are used in clinical practice for wound healing, joint pain, kerato-conjunctivitis, asthma, mouth care, oesophageal-reflux, and gastritis. Moreover, it is used as a filler to counteract ageing and facial lipoatrophy. Our study aims at investigating the in vitro antiviral activity of a high molecular weight HA.METHODS: the MTT test was used to rule out the potential toxic effects of HA on the different cell lines used in the antiviral assays. The antiviral activity of HA against Coxsackievirus B5, Herpes simplex virus-1, Mumps virus, Adenovirus-5, Influenza Virus A/H1N1, Human Herpesvirus-6, Porcine Parvovirus, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus was assessed by virus yield assays.RESULTS: the most effective inhibition was observed against Coxsackievirus B5, with 3Log reduction of the virus yield at 4mg/ml, and a reduction of 3.5Log and 2Log, at 2mg/ml and 1mg/ml, respectively: the selectivity index was 16. Mumps virus was highly inhibited too showing a reduction of 1.7Log at 1mg/ml and 1Log at 4mg/ml and 2mg/ml (selectivity index = 12). The selectivity index for Influenza Virus was 12 with the highest inhibition (1Log) observed at 4mg/ml. Herpes simplex virus-1 and Porcine Parvovirus were mildly inhibited, whereas no antiviral activity was observed with respect to Adenovirus-5, Human Herpesvirus-6, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus. No HA virucidal activity was ever observed against any of the viruses tested. Kinetic experiments showed that both Coxsackievirus B5 and Herpes simplex virus-1 replication were consistently inhibited, not influenced by the time of HA addition, during the virus replication cycle.CONCLUSIONS: the spectrum of the antiviral activity exhibited by HA against both RNA and DNA viruses, known to have different structures (with or without envelope) and replication strategies, suggests a non specific mechanism of action, probably involving cell membrane-virus interaction steps. The results of the kinetic experiments support this hypothesis

Use of an Online Platform to Evaluate the Impact of Social Distancing Measures on Psycho-Physical Well-Being in the COVID-19 Era

Background: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) and the worldwide health crisis have significantly changed both people's habits and lifestyles. Most of the studies found in the literature were carried out on specific professional categories in the socio-health sector, taking into consideration psychological disorders in relation to work. The purpose of this study was to analyze the psychological impact on a portion of the normal population subjected to lockdown. Methods: A questionnaire was distributed in the period between 23 March 2020 and 18 May 2020 (during Italian lockdown) using an online platform. The scales GAD-7, IES-r, PHQ-9 and MANSA were used to investigate the level of anxiety, the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder, the severity of depression and the perceived quality of life, respectively. Results: Four hundred and eight Italian subjects responded. Females and younger people were more affected by anxiety and depression. Post-traumatic stress disorder affected about 40% of the population sample, significantly young people and women, thus attesting to an important psychopathological response. About one-fifth of the sample population recorded an unsatisfactory quality of life. Conclusions: The results highlight the need to set up preventive interventions (primary and secondary), trying to focus on the most fragile group of subjects from a psychosocial point of view, in order to obtain a significant reduction in psychophysical damage in terms of relapses and outcomes

Estudio observacional del estado auditivo de adolescentes y jóvenes aspirantes a una institución pública

Millones de personas en el mundo experimentan pérdida de la audición inducida por el ruido, consecuencia de la excesiva exposición a sonidos tanto en el ámbito ocupacional como recreacional, siendo ejemplo el uso de reproductores portátil de música (RPM). Actualmente los problemas de audición afectan a personas cada vez más jóvenes, producto de la modernidad, por lo que aumentó la población expuesta a sufrir síntomas auditivos. El trauma acústico agudo (TAA) es la exposición coclear a un ruido muy intenso y el trauma acústico crónico (TAC) la exposición mantenida a intensidades superiores a 90 dB. La audiometría valora la pérdida auditiva. El TAA y TAC muestran perfiles audiométricos característicos. La pérdida de la audición suele ser minimizada o ignorada, constituyéndose en un verdadero problema para la salud pública.Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Estudio observacional del estado auditivo de adolescentes y jóvenes aspirantes a una institución pública

Millones de personas en el mundo experimentan pérdida de la audición inducida por el ruido, consecuencia de la excesiva exposición a sonidos tanto en el ámbito ocupacional como recreacional, siendo ejemplo el uso de reproductores portátil de música (RPM). Actualmente los problemas de audición afectan a personas cada vez más jóvenes, producto de la modernidad, por lo que aumentó la población expuesta a sufrir síntomas auditivos. El trauma acústico agudo (TAA) es la exposición coclear a un ruido muy intenso y el trauma acústico crónico (TAC) la exposición mantenida a intensidades superiores a 90 dB. La audiometría valora la pérdida auditiva. El TAA y TAC muestran perfiles audiométricos característicos. La pérdida de la audición suele ser minimizada o ignorada, constituyéndose en un verdadero problema para la salud pública.Facultad de Ciencias Médica