1,471 research outputs found

    Future CMB cosmological constraints in a dark coupled universe

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    Cosmic Microwave Background satellite missions as the on-going Planck experiment are expected to provide the strongest constraints on a wide set of cosmological parameters. Those constraints, however, could be weakened when the assumption of a cosmological constant as the dark energy component is removed. Here we show that it will indeed be the case when there exists a coupling among the dark energy and the dark matter fluids. In particular, the expected errors on key parameters as the cold dark matter density and the angular diameter distance at decoupling are significantly larger when a dark coupling is introduced. We show that it will be the case also for future satellite missions as EPIC, unless CMB lensing extraction is performed.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

    Involvement of aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling in the development of small cell lung cancer induced by HPV E6/E7 oncoproteins

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Lung cancers consist of four major types that and for clinical-pathological reasons are often divided into two broad categories: small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). All major histological types of lung cancer are associated with smoking, although the association is stronger for SCLC and squamous cell carcinoma than adenocarcinoma. To date, epidemiological studies have identified several environmental, genetic, hormonal and viral factors associated with lung cancer risk. It has been estimated that 15-25% of human cancers may have a viral etiology. The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a proven cause of most human cervical cancers, and might have a role in other malignancies including vulva, skin, oesophagus, head and neck cancer. HPV has also been speculated to have a role in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. To validate the hypothesis of HPV involvement in small cell lung cancer pathogenesis we performed a gene expression profile of transgenic mouse model of SCLC induced by HPV-16 E6/E7 oncoproteins.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Gene expression profile of SCLC has been performed using Agilent whole mouse genome (4 × 44k) representing ~ 41000 genes and mouse transcripts. Samples were obtained from two HPV16-E6/E7 transgenic mouse models and from littermate's normal lung. Data analyses were performed using GeneSpring 10 and the functional classification of deregulated genes was performed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (Ingenuity<sup>® </sup>Systems, <url>http://www.ingenuity.com</url>).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Analysis of deregulated genes induced by the expression of E6/E7 oncoproteins supports the hypothesis of a linkage between HPV infection and SCLC development. As a matter of fact, comparison of deregulated genes in our system and those in human SCLC showed that many of them are located in the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Signal transduction pathway.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In this study, the global gene expression of transgenic mouse model of SCLC induced by HPV-16 E6/E7 oncoproteins led us to identification of several genes involved in SCLC tumor development. Furthermore, our study reveled that the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Signaling is the primarily affected pathway by the E6/E7 oncoproteins expression and that this pathway is also deregulated in human SCLC. Our results provide the basis for the development of new therapeutic approaches against human SCLC.</p

    State construction and "indios amigos": the access to land of Ancalao's tribe in the frontier settlement of Bahía Blanca

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    La hipótesis de este trabajo es que la distribución en propiedad de la tierra pública en la frontera de Buenos Aires en la década de 1860 formó parte de la construcción de una idea de estado, en términos de Abrams (2000 [1988]). Desde esta perspectiva, mediante regulaciones y títulos, las autoridades estatales apuntaron tanto a monopolizar los criterios de legitimidad de la ocupación, el acceso y la distribución de la tierra como a instituir una concepción del espacio y el territorio aunque en tensión con otras concepciones criollas e indígenas que devinieron marginales. Apuntamos a revisar la gestión de la propiedad de la tierra de la tribu de “indios amigos” de Ancalao para analizar sí, cómo y en qué medida esta idea de estado impactó en la organización del espacio de estos pobladores en Bahía Blanca. Reflexionamos finalmente sobre los efectos que tuvo el acceso a la propiedad en la construcción de la “tribu” de AncalaoThis paper hypothesis is that public land distribution as private property in Buenos Aires frontier during the decade of 1860 was linked to the construction of an idea of State,&nbsp; in terms of Abrams (2000 [1988]). From this perspective, by means of regulations and titles, state authorities sought to monopolize legitimate criteria of occupying, accessing and distributing land as well as to impose a conception of space and territory different from the creole and indigenous&nbsp;versions that became marginal. The paper aims to examine how Ancalao’s tribe&nbsp;&nbsp;of “indios amigos ” gained access to land property in order to analyze how and in which ways this idea of State&nbsp; had an impact over the organization of space of these indigenous people in Bahía Blanca. Finally, it considers the effects that the access to land might have had in the construction of Ancalao’s “tribe”

    Prenatal screening and counseling for genetic disorders

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    Introduction: The carriers of the same autosomal recessive disorder are usually unaware of onset of the genetic diseases in the children even if screenings are available for many of these disorders. In this paper, we report the experience of the Prenatal Diagnosis Center of AOU Federico II and we discuss the role of the screening for beta-thalassemia (BT), cystic fibrosis (CF) and for other rare genetic disorders. Materials and Methods: We analyzed retrospectively the indication for Prenatal Diagnosis (PD) of all the couples referred to our center from January 1993 to May 2013. We divided our sample into three groups: couples at high risk for BT, for CF and for other rare genetic disorders. Results: From January 1993 to May 2013, we performed 1269 PD for genetic disorders. There are still couples who discovered to be carriers of BT by screening after the birth of the affected child (n=51 (11,3%)); the majority of the people were screened for CF carrier after the birth of an affected child (n=155 (80,7%)) or through the cascade screening (n=28 (14,6%)). Large-scale screenings for rare genetic conditions are not available and people were screened only if they have a positive familial history. Conclusion: Parental screening is available for many severe and rare diseases whose genetic origin is known. The proportion of patients referred for very high-risk indications increased over time with an higher demand for rare disease. An adequate counseling is fundamental to identify women at risk for having affected child. Screening, counseling and PD of genetic diseases is a complex matter and needs for a continuous update

    Thrombotic microangiopathies during pregnancy : The obstetrical and neonatal perspective

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    Thrombotic Microangiopathies during pregnancy and puerperium are very rare and, if undiagnosed, can be lifethreating. Pregnancy and postpartum can represent a trigger in predisposed patients. Therefore, obstetricians are usually the first to observe clinical symptoms and laboratory abnormalities suggestive of Thrombotic Microangiopathies. The aim of this review is to briefly describe the obstetrical and perinatal outcome of these entities and highlight the clues for a correct diagnosis of pregnancy-related Thrombotic Microangiopathies. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

    Maternal Body Mass Index influences Umbilical Artery Doppler Velocimetry in physiologic pregnancies.

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    OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to assess whether there is a relationship between maternal body mass index (BMI) and umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry in physiologic pregnancies. METHODS: Healthy pregnancy women, referred to our center at or before 32 weeks of gestation, were recruited. According to BMI, they were divided into underweight (BMI &lt; 18.5), normal weight (BMI 18.5-24.9), overweight (BMI 25.0-29.9) and obese women (BMI ≥ 30). At 32(+0)  weeks of gestation, maternal BMI and umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry were recorded. A correlation between pulsatility index of umbilical artery and BMI was assessed by one-way ANOVA test, multiple comparison test (Bonferroni correction) and polynomial regression. RESULTS: One hundred eighty-five women were included. Mean pulsatility index of umbilical artery at 32(+0) was significantly higher in obese women (0.95 ± 0.01 vs 0.87 ± 0.01 vs 0.67 ± 0.01; p &lt; 0.05). We found a positive correlation between Pulsatility Index of Umbilical Artery and maternal BMI (r(2)  = 0.7; p &lt; 0.05). CONCLUSION: There is a positive correlation between BMI and pulsatility index of umbilical artery. These findings suggest that obesity has a negative effect on feto-placetal vessels. If our data will be confirmed, maternal BMI should be considered in evaluation of umbilical Doppler velocimetry

    Celiac disease and obstetric complications: a systematic review and metaanalysis

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    The aim of this metaanalysis was to evaluate the risk of the development of obstetric complications in women with celiac disease. We searched electronic databases from their inception until February 2015. We included all cohort studies that reported the incidence of obstetric complications in women with celiac disease compared with women without celiac disease (ie, control group). Studies without a control group and case-control studies were excluded. The primary outcome was defined a priori and was the incidence of a composite of obstetric complications that included intrauterine growth restriction, small for gestational age, low birthweight, preeclampsia and preterm birth. Secondary outcomes included the incidence of preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, stillbirth, preeclampsia, small for gestational age, and low birthweight. The review was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42015017263) before data extraction. All authors were contacted to obtain the original databases and perform individual participant data metaanalysis. Primary and secondary outcomes were assessed in the aggregate data analysis and in the individual participant data metaanalysis. We included 10 cohort studies (4,844,555 women) in this metaanalysis. Four authors provided the entire databases for the individual participant data analysis. Because none of the included studies stratified data for the primary outcome (ie, composite outcome), the assessment of this outcome for the aggregate analysis was not feasible. Aggregate data analysis showed that, compared with women in the control group, women with celiac disease (both treated and untreated) had a significantly higher risk of the development of preterm birth (adjusted odds ratio, 1.35; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-1.66), intrauterine growth restriction (odds ratio, 2.48; 95% confidence interval, 1.32-4.67), stillbirth (odds ratio, 4.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-21.75), low birthweight (odds ratio, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-2.51), and small for gestational age (odds ratio, 4.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-20.08); no statistically significant difference was found in the incidence of preeclampsia (odds ratio, 2.45; 95% confidence interval, 0.90-6.70). The risk of preterm birth was still significantly higher both in the subgroup analysis of only women with diagnosed and treated celiac disease (odds ratio, 1.26; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.48) and in the subgroup analysis of only women with undiagnosed and untreated celiac disease (odds ratio, 2.50; 95% confidence interval; 1.06-5.87). Women with diagnosed and treated celiac disease had a significantly lower risk of the development of preterm birth, compared with undiagnosed and untreated celiac disease (odds ratio, 0.80; 95% confidence interval, 0.64-0.99). The individual participant data metaanalysis showed that women with celiac disease had a significantly higher risk of composite obstetric complications compared with control subjects (odds ratio, 1.51; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-1.94). Our individual participant data concurs with the aggregate analysis for all the secondary outcomes. In summary, women with celiac disease had a significantly higher risk of the development of obstetric complications that included preterm birth, intrauterine growth restriction, stillbirth, low birthweight, and small for gestational age

    Le carte di S. Maria Vecchia di Como (secoli XI-XIII)

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    Questo saggio costituisce la terza parte del lavoro di edizione delle carte di S. Maria Vecchia avviato sul quattordicesimo numero della rivista
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