The orientation of the Mithraea in Ostia Antica

We conducted an investigation on the orientations and geometrical content of the Mithraea of Ostia Antica. A geometrical CAD study based on the most reliable plans from the Archives of the Sovrintendenza Speciale per il Colosseo, il MNR e l’Area Archeologica di Roma – Ostia Antica, aside with the identification of geometrical and numerical schemes and associated length units, allowed us to identify the axes of the Mithraea. Then the orientations of the axes were measured on field by means of a professional compass with ± 0.5° uncertainty. The distribution of these measured azimuths follows the topography of the city. On the contrary, the Decumanus, the main street of the town, presents an indubitable orientation toward the Winter Solstice Sunset. This was ascertained by measuring the coordinates of four significant points along the street with the help of a palmar Trimble GPS which averages 100 measures per point. The exceptional density of Mithraea in Ostia led us to suppose that a symbolic cosmic-solar value is to be searched in the orientation as a whole of the town itself, founded half a millennium before the first presence of Mithraism in Rome. The Decumanus could be considered the very holder of this symbolic value with its orientation toward the Winter Solstice Sunset, possibly making of Ostia a very special place for Mithraicism

Communication between cells: exosomes as a delivery system in prostate cancer.

Despite the considerable efforts in screening and diagnostic protocols, prostate cancer still represents the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men. Many patients with localized disease and low risk of recurrence have a favourable outcome. In a substantial proportion of patients, however, the disease progresses and becomes aggressive. The mechanisms that promote prostate cancer progression remain still debated. Many findings point to the role of cross-communication between prostate tumor cells and their surrounding microenvironment during the disease progression. Such a connection fosters survival, proliferation, angiogenesis, metastatic spreading and drug-resistance of prostate cancer. Recent years have seen a profound interest in understanding the way by which prostate cancer cells communicate with the surrounding cells in the microenvironment. In this regard, direct cell-to-cell contacts and soluble factors have been identified. Increasing evidence indicates that PC cells communicate with the surrounding cells through the release of extracellular vesicles, mainly the exosomes. By directly acting in stromal or prostate cancer epithelial cells, exosomes represent a critical intercellular communication system. By querying the public database (https:// pubmed. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov) for the past 10 years, we have found more than four hundred papers. Among them, we have extrapolated the most relevant about the role of exosomes in prostate cancer malignancy and progression. Emerging data concerning the use of these vesicles in diagnostic management and therapeutic guidance of PC patients are also presented

Erratum to: Respiratory diphtheria due to Corynebacterium ulcerans transmitted by a companion dog, Italy 2014

n/

Endothelial Cells' Activation and Apoptosis Induced by a Subset of Antibodies against Human Cytomegalovirus: Relevance to the Pathogenesis of Atherosclerosis

Human cytomegalovirus (hCMV) is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We have previously shown in patients with atherosclerosis that antibodies directed against the hCMV-derived proteins US28 and UL122 are able to induce endothelial cell damage and apoptosis of non-stressed endothelial cells through cross-rection with normally expressed surface molecules. Our aim was to dissect the molecular basis of such interaction and to investigate mechanisms linking innate immunity to atherosclerosis.We analysed the gene expression profiles in endothelial cells stimulated with antibodies affinity-purified against either the UL122 or the US28 peptides using the microarray technology. Microarray results were validated by quantitative PCR and by detection of proteins in the medium. Supernatant of endothelial cells incubated with antibodies was analysed also for the presence of Heat Shock Protein (HSP)60 and was used to assess stimulation of Toll-Like Receptor-4 (TLR4). Antibodies against UL122 and US28 induced the expression of genes encoding for adhesion molecules, chemokines, growth factors and molecules involved in the apoptotis process together with other genes known to be involved in the initiation and progression of the atherosclerotic process. HSP60 was released in the medium of cells incubated with anti-US28 antibodies and was able to engage TLR4.Antibodies directed against hCMV modulate the expression of genes coding for molecules involved in activation and apoptosis of endothelial cells, processes known to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Moreover, endothelial cells exposed to such antibodies express HSP60 on the cell surface and release HSP60 in the medium able to activate TLR4. These data confirm that antibodies directed against hCMV-derived proteins US28 and UL122 purified from patients with coronary artery disease induce endothelial cell damage and support the hypothesis that hCMV infection may play a crucial role in mediating the atherosclerotic process

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

Geometrical analyses of some Roman monuments of Republican and Imperial Ages with wide area litho-technical characterization of the monument sites

Nell’ambito delle Scienze Applicate alla protezione dei Beni Culturali l’aspetto conoscitivo del monumento riveste particolare importanza ai fini di una corretta comprensione del monumento stesso, sia per quel che riguarda le trasformazioni che nel tempo ne hanno alterato lo stato originario generando diversi stati di degrado, sia per quel che riguarda la corretta valutazione delle dimensioni originarie da utilizzare per formulare ipotesi ricostruttive e di restauro. Situati in 3 aree di studio - Roma (centro storico); Ostia Antica e Portus/Fiumicino (piana deltizia del Tevere); Villa Adriana (propaggini nord-orientali dei Colli Albani) - i 14 monumenti in esame sono stati scelti tra le architetture più significative della città e dei suoi dintorni, sia pubbliche che Imperiali (templi, mausolei, palazzi o infrastrutture imperiali), coprendo un intervallo temporale di quattro secoli (dal III-II secolo a.C. fino al II secolo d.C.). Il presente studio si propone due obiettivi: il primo riguarda la ricerca delle geometrie e delle proporzioni impiegate nella progettazione dei monumenti in esame mediante l'analisi geometrica delle planimetrie e la verifica dell'uso di specifiche configurazioni correlate a precisi schemi numerici, con lo scopo di determinare una correlata e coerente unità di lunghezza; il secondo concerne la caratterizzazione lito-tecnica delle aree archeologiche in esame attraverso la codifica delle descrizioni dei diversi livelli dei sondaggi presenti nel database del WebGIS UrbiSIT e la successiva correlazione di tali livelli con le unità geologiche note in letteratura. La metodologia applicata per l’analisi geometrica si fonda sul confronto tra le geometrie individuabili nelle planimetrie delle architetture antiche e configurazioni geometriche teoriche correlate a precisi schemi numerici (Terne Squadranti, in grado di produrre una condizione di ortogonalità, e Coppie Cerchio-Poligono-Cerchio, correlate a loro volta a configurazioni anulari in cui poligoni regolari sono inscritti tra i due cerchi dell’anello), con lo scopo di determinare l’unità di lunghezza impiegata per la progettazione/costruzione del singolo monumento. Basata su analisi CAD, analisi statistica e specifiche procedure di best fit (algoritmi di Arbenz 2008 e Al-Sharadqah & Chernov 2009, opportunamente modificati per il calcolo della deviazione standard associata ai risultati di best fit), tale metodologia dimostra di essere un valido strumento per evidenziare con obiettività le caratteristiche geometriche delle antiche architetture e, di conseguenza, le proporzioni delle forme, gli schemi numerici che determinano tali proporzioni e l'unità di lunghezza impiegata in ogni singolo cantiere. I risultati ottenuti hanno consentito di confermare l’ipotesi che la configurazione/organizzazione dello spazio architettonico e la determinazione delle corrispondenti proporzioni fossero realizzate utilizzando specifiche configurazioni geometriche correlate a precisi schemi numerici (Terne Squadranti e Coppie Cerchio-Poligono-Cerchio), rivelando inoltre come l'uso di tali schemi geometrici sia stato continuativo nel periodo cronologico in esame. Per quanto riguarda il secondo obiettivo, la caratterizzazione lito-tecnica delle diverse aree archeologiche ha consentito di proporre modelli geologici di sintesi con differente grado di affidabilità, in relazione alla differente distribuzione dei sondaggi intorno ai monumenti in esame. Per i monumenti situati in corrispondenza delle alluvioni recenti all'interno del centro storico di Roma è stata anche effettuata una valutazione preliminare semi-quantitativa della suscettibilità al cedimento associata alle litologie alluvionali in corrispondenza dei sondaggi considerati

Il Tempio di Portunus nel Foro Boario in Roma. Analisi geometrica della pianta e orientamento

The temple of Portunus at Forum Boarium in Rome (1st century B.C.) is a rectangular ionic temple. A geometrical analysis based on CAD and on best fitting procedures has been performed on the most reliable plan available (Adam 1994). Results are coherent with an appropriate combination of Pythagorean or quasi-Pythagorean Triads and with the roman metrological system. A N-S orientation (ca ± 1°) has been found for the diagonal of the half stylobate (type 2 in Ranieri 2013)