Novel mechanisms of neuroprotective effects of Quercetin on human striatal neuroblasts

Human striatal precursor (HSP) primary cell cultures were isolated from ganglionic eminence of 9-12 week old human fetuses and extensively characterized in vitro (1). Our studies demonstrated that these cultures consists of a mixed population of neural stem cells, neuronal-restricted progenitors and striatal neurons that express and are responsive to many trophic factors, as BDNF and FGF2, and possess an adaptive response to stress conditions as nutrient deprivation and hypoxia through mechanisms involving different factors and neurotrophins (1,2). In the last decades, several in vitro and in vivo studies have provided evidence for neuroprotective effects by Quercetin, a polyphenol widely present in nature, passively absorbed in the small intestine and able to traverse the blood brain barrier (3). However, the mechanisms through which Quercetin exerts its neuroprotective effects are not fully delucidated. Our study was aimed at investigating the effects of Quercetin on HSP cells and its contribution to cell survival in nutrient deprivation condition, obtained replacing culture medium with Phosphate Buffer Saline (PBS). Quercetin treatment significantly promoted cell survival and strongly decreased apoptosis induced by nutrient deprivation condition, as evaluated by MTT assay, Trypan Blue staining and western blot analysis of cell death and proliferation markers. Moreover, since the adhesive capacities of cells are essential for cell survival, we next analysed the expression of some adhesion molecules such as Pancadherin and Focal Adhesion Kinase; our results interestingly showed that PBS exposure determined a strong decrease in all the analysed adhesion molecules, while in presence of Quercetin the expression was significantly increased. Our results add new mechanicistic insights into the comprehension of neuroprotective action of Quercetin treatment, thus suggesting possible implications in sustaining striatal neuron survival during neurodegenerative disorders, such as Huntington Disease

Role of physical activity program in the tertiary prevention of female breast cancer: a pilot study

Physical activity is recognised internationally as a key factor in breast cancer prevention that is worldwide the major cause of cancer incidence and mortality in women. It is likely that physical activity is associated with decreased breast cancer risk via multiple interrelated biologic pathway that may involve adiposity, sex hormones, insulin resistence, adipokines and chronic inflammation (Recent Results Cancer Res, 2011). Although women diagnosed with breast cancer are living longer for treatment improvements, concerns about functional limitations, recurrence and survival remain paramount. Recent researches support the beneficial role that physical activity plays in reducing the risk for developing breast cancer and preventing or attenuating disease and treatment-related impairments (Methods Mol Biol, 2009). Post-diagnosis physical activity has been associated with improved quality of life and survivors should be encouraged to initiate and maintain a program of physical activity (Cancer Prev Res, 2011). However, actually it is not yet clear which duration, frequency and intensity of physical activities provide the benefits in primary or tertiary prevention; studies are also limited by incomplete reporting and methodological limitations (Cancer Treat Rev, 2010). We provided a physical activity program in breast cancer survivors (60 women; mean age 59,5 ± 9,8) recruited by Cancer Rehabilitation Center in Florence to investigate the role of physical activity on psychophysical wellness. The subjects were evaluated at the baseline and after the 8-week study period. The anthropometric parameters were measured and the subjects underwent a battery of fitness tests to assess shoulder-arm mobility and range of motion, and back flexibility. All partecipants filled out numerical rating scale and Short-Form 12 questionnaires to quantify the pain intensity to back and the shoulder of the operated arm, and to assess the quality of life, respectively. Our results demonstrated that an organized specific program of adapted physical activity may be an effective countermeasure to reduce the adverse effects after surgery and oncological therapy

Efficacy of a specific program of adapted physical activity in breast cancer survivors: a 5-year single center experience in Florence

Physical activity has been proposed as a nonpharmacological intervention to improve the quality of life in breast cancer survivors. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy among women worldwide. Recently, earlier detection and advances in therapies have substantially improved the survival rate of breast cancer patients, many of which will have a normal life expectancy. However, cancer treatments can produce negative short- and/or long-term physical and psychological effects (i.e. shoulder and arm decresed mobility, pain, mood disturbance), which heavily contribute to the reduction of life quality. In previous study, we carefully described the exercise methodology of a planned and personalized program of adapted physical activity (APA) demonstrating its efficacy in reducing the shoulderarm complications and improving the quality of life in breast cancer survivors (1). In the present study, we evaluted a higher numbers of breast cancer survivors and a long-time follow up to verify the effectiveness of our protocol. For this pourpose, 140 breast cancer survivors (mean age 56.8±10.2) were recruited by Cancer Rehabilitation Center in Florence between February 2009 and November 2014. The women were evaluated at the baseline and after the 8-week physical activity. The anthropometric parameters were measured and the subjects underwent a battery of fitness tests to assess shoulder-arm mobility and range of motion (ROM), and back flexibility (sit and reach test). All partecipants filled out numerical rating scale and Short-Form 12 questionnaires to quantify the pain intensity to back and the shoulder of the operated arm, and to assess the quality of life, respectively. The evaluation of shoulderarm mobility and self-reported questionnaire data revealed a statistically significant improvement after completion of our specific exercise program. After one year from APA, participants were subjected again to this evaluation protocol. Moreover, to evaluate the APA long-term effects (i.e. physically active lifestyle and shoulder-arm disability), a structured questionnaire was administered to all participants

Effects of a specific adapted exercise on chronic cancerrelated arm lymphedema: a pilot study

Secondary arm lymphedema (LE) is among the most dreaded chronic complications in cancer patients that occurs when axillary lymphatic drainage from the arm is interrupted because of axillary lymph node dissection and/or axillary radiation (Ikeda et al., 2014). LE is characterized by accumulation of protein-rich interstitial fluid in the arm, resulting in tissue swelling. Subsequent swelling can cause pain, discomfort, heaviness, distortion, and reduced mobility and function, thereby affecting quality of life. With increased survival rates there is greater emphasis on enhancing quality of life after treatments (Armer et al., 2003), but the secondary LE remains a problem even with modern treatment modalities. Many treatment options for lymphedema are available, but none offer a permanent reduction or elimination of arm swelling (McKenzie and Kalda, 2003). Recent researches support the positive effects deriving from the regular participation in structured adapted physical activity programs in preventing or attenuating cancer treatment-related impairments improving the quality of life (Mirandola et al., 2013). In this context, the aim of our study was to propose and evaluate a specific exercise, planned by an adapted exercise specialist, to reduce LE and improve strenght and mobility of the arm, as well as quality of life in cancers survivors. We recruited by Cancer Rehabilitation Center of Florence 20 cancer survivors with chronic moderate-severe arm lymphedema, divided randomly into 4 groups according to the different protocol for duration, frequency and intensity of proposed exercise. Outcome measures, included the arm circumference, ROM of arm and hand-wrist, strenght (hand grip test) and quality of life (ULL27 questionaire), were assessed at baseline, in itinere (1, 2 and 3 months) and post-intervention (6 months). Our preliminary results demonstrated that a structured exercise (10 repetitions x 3 with 1 minute break once a day for 3 times per week) improved shoulder function, reduced and managed LE cancer survivors

Elliptic equations in weighted Sobolev spaces on unbounded domains of the plane

In this paper we prove some a priori bounds for a class of uniformly elliptic second order linear differential operators with discontinuous coefficients in some weighted Sobolev spaces.We deduce a uniqueness and existence theorem for the related Dirichlet problem on unbounded domains of the plane

The integration of circular economy in the tourism industry: A framework for the implementation of circular hotels

The hospitality industry, together with the transports one, represents the highest source of emissions and pollution in the tourism sector. The hotels, to respond to the pressing tourist demand, are forced to make a spasmodic use of resources, causing irreversible environmental damage that includes pollution, CO2 emissions, high waste production, and depletion of resources. Various initiatives have been proposed to the hospitality industry to improve the environmental performance of hotels: the use of international standards, environmental certifications, sustainable labels, and international tourism guidelines. One solution to this environmental disaster is represented by the introduction of the Circular Economy in the tourism management. In particular into in the hotels business: the realization of Circular Hotels. The objective of the Circular Hotels is to create a closed-loop for the tourist experience. Indeed, Circular Hotels seek to modify their business plans, reviewing supply chains, and engaging stakeholders. Finally, they aim to destroy the traditional idea of waste, considering it as a source of other activities or products. This work seeks to contribute to the existing literature through a review of case studies showing best practices of Circular Hotels. Additionally, this paper presents a systematic classification of best practices promoted by hotels in a circular lens. The Circular Hotels framework is based on a matrix consisting of four variables: the 11 Rs of Circular Economy, the Hotels Areas, the Guest Perception, and the Environmental Impacts. The result of this work explains how the road to the circularity is long, but many hotels have already begun to follow it. The framework demonstrates how the integration of these Rs in the hotels show the strong desire of hoteliers to improve their environmental performance