Replication profile of PCDH11X and PCDH11Y, a gene pair located in the non-pseudoautosomal homologous region Xq21.3/Yp11.2

In order to investigate the replication timing properties of PCDH11X and PCDH11Y, a pair of protocadherin genes located in the hominid-specific non-pseudoautosomal homologous region Xq21.3/Yp11.2, we conducted a FISH-based comparative study in different human and non-human primate (Gorilla gorilla) cell types. The replication profiles of three genes from different regions of chromosome X (ZFX, XIST and ATRX) were used as terms of reference. Particular emphasis was given to the evaluation of allelic replication asynchrony in relation to the inactivation status of each gene. The human cell types analysed include neuronal cells and ICF syndrome cells, considered to be a model system for the study of X inactivation. PCDH11 appeared to be generally characterized by replication asynchrony in both male and female cells, and no significant differences were observed between human and gorilla, in which this gene lacks X-Y homologous status. However, in differentiated human neuroblastoma and cerebral cortical cells PCDH11X replication profile showed a significant shift towards allelic synchrony. Our data are relevant to the complex relationship between X-inactivation, as a chromosome-wide phenomenon, and asynchrony of replication and expression status of single genes on chromosome X

Pregabalin antagonizes copper-induced toxicity in the brain: in vitro and in vivo studies.

Copper plays key roles in brain metabolism. Disorders of copper metabolism impact on neural signaling. The intracellular and extracellular concentrations of copper are tightly regulated. Pregabalin is a drug with multiple modes of action and has a high-affinity binding site for the alpha2delta subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels.Journal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov'tSCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Female Directors and Innovation in Public Hospitals

The paper aims to examine the influence of gender diversity among hospital directors on the adoption of innovation. To this aim, it empirically analyses a sample of 108 Italian public hospitals, including general, teaching and research hospitals, for the 2015-2016 time-frame. Findings from our OLS regression analysis show that female directors enable hospitals to successfully face the innovation challenge. In particular, female directors bring specific skills to executives and enhance their knowledge base. In addition, the results of our analysis suggest that work-abroad experience promote the implementation of innovative solutions as it provides women directors with a global view and open-mindedness that enrich their intercultural skills, and therefore their attitude towards innovation. The results contribute to the existing empirical research on women in governance by providing insights into the healthcare sector that is still under-explored. Moreover, the paper suggests that policy makers should pay attention to combine a stronger participation of female in hospital leadership, and call for proper normative actions able to improve the background requirements for the recruitment of directors