Estonian, Russian and Samizdat Identity: Arno Tsart and Elena Shvarts

The article explores a case of literary mystification by Elena Shvarts that occurred in samizdat during the eighties, featuring a fictitious Estonian poet. Aware of the relevance that translation played in the literary samizdat of Leningrad during the eighties, the investigation focuses on the similarities between the poetess’ hoax and the concept of pseudo-translation, analysing the reasons for and outcomes of her endeavour in terms of identity research. Engaging with Shvarts’ verses, Sergei Stratanovsky’s account of the episode and the position that Estonia played in the samizdat imagined world, the article explores the role of Shvarts/Tsart’s mystification in relation to the poetess and her readership

Structural Features of Antitumor Titanium Agents and Related Compounds

Previous studies established some Ti compounds as having marked activity against tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and lack of side effects common to widely used cytostatic agents. We describe pertinent structural features of known antitumor Ti agents and other potentially active compounds. Particularly noteworthy features are that Ti-O bonds are short and Ti-O-Ti bond angles are large, demonstrating that in these compounds the O binding has high s-character approaching sp hybridization

Changes in inflammatory biomarkers in HCV-infected patients undergoing direct acting antiviral-containing regimens with or without interferon

Background and aims Increased levels of chemokine interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)-inducible protein-10 (CXCL10), soluble CD163 (sCD163) and soluble CD14 (sCD14) have been reported in HCV infection. The aim of this study was to compare, sCD163 and sCD14 levels in HCV-infected patients undergoing direct acting antiviral (DAA)-containing regimens with or without interferon (IFN). Methods sCD163, sCD14 and CXCL10 were longitudinally measured by ELISA in 159 plasma samples from 25 HCV-infected patients undergoing IFN-based treatment plus telaprevir or boceprevir and 28 HCV infected subjects treated with DAA IFN-free regimens. Twenty-five healthy donors (HD) were included as controls. Results At baseline CXCL10, sCD163 and sCD14 levels were higher in HCV-infected patients than in HD. CXCL10 and sCD163 levels were significantly decreased in responder (R) patients who achieved sustained virological response (SVR), with both IFN-based and IFN-free regimens, while they were persistently elevated in non-responders (NR) patients who stopped IFN-based treatments because of failure or adverse events. Conversely, sCD14 levels were apparently unchanged during therapy, but at the end of treatment the levels reached normal ranges. Comparing the two regimens, the extent of CXCL10 reduction was more pronounced in patients undergoing DAA IFN-free therapies, whereas sCD163 and sCD14 reduction was similar in the two groups. Interestingly, only in IFN-based regimens baseline sCD163 levels were significantly higher in NR than in R patients, while in the IFN-free treatment group also patients with highsCD163 plasma levels obtained SVR. At the end of therapy, even if the biomarkers were largely decreased, their levels remained significantly higher compared to HD. Only in the early fibrosis stages, sCD163 values tended to normalize. Conclusions These results indicate that IFN-free regimens including newer DAA induce an early and marked decrease in circulating inflammatory biomarkers. However, the full normalization of biomarkers was not obtained, especially in patients with advanced fibrosis, thus underlying the need for a treatment in the early stages of HCV infection

Desgaste por empatía y síntomas de estrés postraumático en profesionales que trabajan en género y violencia de género

Compassion fatigue is a term to describe the emotional, physical and psychological consequences of helping others. It mainly appears in jobs related to humanitarian assistance. The main aim of this article is to investigate the specific effects of working with victims of gender violence in these professionals.Three different research lines have been established: the first one of how working in gender roles affects their private life (two study samples have been compared: the first one made up of 80 gender specialists and the other one of 80 women who carry out their jobs in other areas), the second one about vicarious trauma and the third one referred to the discomfort caused by precariousness in psychosocial intervention. The outcomes show the following conclusions: 1) Gender experts suffer more negative effects when they face situations in their private life related to gender problems compared with the general population. 2) The majority of the professional interviewed suffered secondary post-traumatic stress symptoms as a result of working in violence. Social workers show the highest rate of symptoms, followed by psychologists and educators, educational assistants and administratives.3) The 78,7% of the psychosocial professionals group think that there is a lack of economical reward for their activity.This article also analyzed the fact that the topic ´gender´ arises frequently in their daily life, making difficult to disconnect from work.El síndrome de desgaste por empatía aparece principalmente en profesiones basadas en la relación de ayuda y con carácter humanitario. El objetivo de este artículo es investigar sobre las repercusiones concretas que tiene para las profesionales el trabajo con mujeres víctimas de violencia de género. Se han establecido tres líneas de estudio diferenciadas: una sobre los efectos de trabajar en el ámbito de género e igualdad en la vida cotidiana (para lo que se compara una muestra formada por 80 especialistas en género y otra por 80 mujeres que desarrollan su actividad en cualquier otra área), otra relacionada con el trauma vicario y una tercera referente al malestar asociado a la precariedad laboral del ámbito psicosocial. Los resultados muestran las siguientes conclusiones: 1) Las expertas en género muestran una mayor afectación negativa ante situaciones de la vida cotidiana relacionadas con el género que la población general; 2) Los efectos derivados de trabajar en violencia son visibles atendiendo al número de síntomas de estrés postraumático secundario reportado por parte de las profesionales entrevistadas; las trabajadoras sociales muestran de media mayor sintomatología postraumática secundaria, seguidas por las psicólogas, educadoras, auxiliares educativas y por último administrativas; 3) Un 78,7% señala la falta de reconocimiento económico por su labor. Además, se pone de manifiesto el hecho de que el tema “género” surge recurrentemente en su vida diaria, dificultando hallar espacios de desconexión fuera del trabajo

The frequency of polidrug use in a driving population in Rome

In Italy the illicit substances routinely tested are cannabinoids, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines / methamphetamine, MDMA and similar but these substances are not the most use in our country. In particular, the consumption of ketamine represents an emerging problem. Ketamine is a anesthetic with hallucinogenic and dissociative effects and these are the ones sought for the voluptuary pur-pose, while the amnesic effect are exploited for drug facilitated sexual assault. Our study was car-ried out to assess the positivity for the illicit substances routinely tested and also for ketamine in a population of 182 patients arrived at the emergency room of the Hospital “San Camillo Forlanini” of Rome, for which have been required toxicological tests on the basis of Articles 186 and 187 of the New Highway Code. The choice of this kind of population allows to have an accurate and reliable epidemiological data about the real diffusion of voluptuary use of drugs. The study examines 182 samples subjected to routine toxicological investigations in the period be-tween October 2011 and August 2012. The Authors have researched the presence of ethanol, cannabinoids, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines and benzodiazepines with the use of “ADVIA Chemistry Systems ”, while the ketamine is tested by a single-phase tests on urine [Sure Screen Diagnostic (Di. Ra.Lab)] with a cut-off level of this method is 1000ng/ml. During this period we have considered 182 patients (males 78%, females 22%). The mean age was 34 years (standard deviation 13, minimum 15, maximum 80). Most of the admission were during the last days of the week (Thursday 17%, Friday 15%, Saturday 15% and Sunday 17%). With re-spect to the clinical needs of subjects admitted, 42% were admitted with a red code. Considering a single substance analysis, 46 subjects resulted positive to alcohol (25%), 38 to can-nabinoids (21%), 24 to opioids (13%), 20 to cocaine (11%), 19 to benzodiapezine (10%) and 7 to ketamine (4%). Among those who resulted positive to at least one substance (95, 52% of the sample) 55 subjects re-sulted positive to one substance (58%), 27 to two substances (28%) and 13 to three or more substances (13%). Poly-use was evaluated with an indicator previously proposed by Fabi et al in 2013. This resulted in a polydrug-use score equal to 2.93 (standard deviation 1.7, minimum 1.5, maximum 9.25)

Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography for radiological assessment beyond dento-maxillofacial imaging: a review of the clinical applications in other anatomical districts

Background: Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) represents the optimal imaging solution for the evaluation of the maxillofacial and dental area when quantitative geometric and volumetric accuracy is necessary (e.g., in implantology and orthodontics). Moreover, in recent years, this technique has given excellent results for the imaging of lower and upper extremities. Therefore, significant interest has been increased in using CBCT to investigate larger and non-traditional anatomical districts. Objective: The purpose of this work is to review the scientific literature in Pubmed and Scopus on CBCT application beyond head districts by paying attention to image quality and radiological doses. Method: The search for keywords was conducted in Pubmed and Scopus databases with no back-date restriction. Papers on applications of CBCT to head were excluded from the present work. From each considered paper, parameters related to image quality and radiological dose were extracted. An overall qualitative evaluation of the results extracted from each issue was done by comparing the conclusive remarks of each author regarding doses and image quality. PRISMA statements were followed during this process. Results: The review retrieved 97 issues from 83 extracted papers; 46 issues presented a comparison between CBCT and Multi-Detector Computed Tomography (MDCT), and 51 reviewed only CBCT. The radiological doses given to the patient with CBCT were considered acceptable in 91% of cases, and the final image quality was found in 99%. Conclusion: CBCT represents a promising technology not only for imaging of the head and upper and lower extremities but for all the orthopedic districts. Moreover, the application of CBCT derived from C-arms (without the possibility of a 360 ° rotation range) during invasive investigations demonstrates the feasibility of this technique for non-standard anatomical areas, from soft tissues to vascular beds, despite the limits due to the incomplete rotation of the tube

Dendritic cells in blood and urine samples from bladder cancer patients undergoing BCG immunotherapy

Objectives: Immunotherapy with BCG (Bacille Calmette-Guérin) after transurethral resection of the bladder tumor represents a highly effective primary treatment for intermediate and high-risk superficial bladder cancer. The effectiveness of this therapy has been documented, but its mechanism of action is not clear yet. In the present study, we investigated the changes of dendritic cells (DC) numbers in peripheral blood and urine of patients with superficial bladder cancer undergoing BCG intravescical therapy Material and method: We have enumerated plasmacytoid and myeloid DCs in the peripheral blood and in the urine of patients with bladder cancer in order to clarify the role of these cells in the evolution of the disease and the effect of therapy. DCs in blood and urine samples were assessed using the single-platform TruCOUNT assay with monoclonal antibodies. The study population included 37 healthy donors and 13 patients with diagnosis of primitive superficial bladder cancer. Results: At the time of diagnosis a reduction of blood DCs was found in patients as opposed to healthy donors, while DCs were not found in the urine in the same way as in healthy subjects. Six of these patients were followed before and after weekly and monthly instillations of BCG. In the peripheral blood, we observed an immunological recovery of DCs from the third weekly instillation up to the sixth. In the urine of patients, we didn't find mDCs or pDCs at T0, but we found a statistically significant change from the third instillation up to the sixth. On the contrary, we didn't find mDCs in urine during monthly instillation. Conclusions: DC Count could be used in the monitoring of patients undergoing BCG therapy. Immunological restoration of mDC numbers in peripheral blood and the efflux in urine could be important for confirming the effectiveness of BCG instillation

Taurolidine Antiadhesive Properties on Interaction with E. coli; Its Transformation in Biological Environment and Interaction with Bacteria Cell Wall

The taurine amino-acid derivative, taurolidine, bis-(1,1-dioxoperhydro-1,2,4-thiabiazinyl–4)methane, shows broad antibacterial action against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, mycobacteria and some clinically relevant fungi. It inhibits, in vitro, the adherence of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus to human epithelial and fibroblast cells. Taurolidine is unstable in aqueous solution and breaks down into derivatives which are thought to be responsible for the biological activity. To understand the taurolidine antibacterial mechanism of action, we provide the experimental single crystal X-ray diffraction results together with theoretical methods to characterize the hydrolysis/decomposition reactions of taurolidine. The crystal structure features two independent molecules linked through intermolecular H-bonds with one of them somewhat positively charged. Taurolidine in a biological environment exists in equilibrium with taurultam derivatives and this is described theoretically as a 2-step process without an energy barrier: formation of cationic taurolidine followed by a nucleophilic attack of O(hydroxyl) on the exocyclic C(methylene). A concerted mechanism describes the further hydrolysis of the taurolidine derivative methylol-taurultam. The interaction of methylol-taurultam with the diaminopimelic NH2 group in the E. coli bacteria cell wall (peptidoglycan) has a negative ΔG value (−38.2 kcal/mol) but a high energy barrier (45.8 kcal/mol) suggesting no reactivity. On the contrary, taurolidine docking into E. coli fimbriae protein, responsible for bacteria adhesion to the bladder epithelium, shows it has higher affinity than mannose (the natural substrate), whereas methylol-taurultam and taurultam are less tightly bound. Since taurolidine is readily available because it is administered in high doses after peritonitis surgery, it may successfully compete with mannose explaining its effectiveness against bacterial infections at laparoscopic lesions

The Plant-Derived Chalcone 2,2′,5′-Trihydroxychalcone Provides Neuroprotection against Toll-Like Receptor 4 Triggered Inflammation in Microglia

Chalcones are plant metabolites with potential for therapeutic exploitation as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative agents. Here we explored the neuroprotective effects of 2,2′,5′-trihydroxychalcone (225THC), a potent antioxidant with radical-scavenging properties. 225THC was found to be a potent inhibitor of apoptosis in stimulated primary rat neuronal cultures. This was likely mediated by an anti-inflammatory effect on microglial cells since 225THC inhibited LPS-stimulated TNF-α and IL-6 secretion from primary rat microglia and modulated the cytokine/chemokine profile of BV2 microglial cells. Additionally, 225THC inhibited LPS-evoked inducible nitric oxide synthase expression but did not influence endogenous superoxide generation. Microglial flow cytometric analyses indicated the 225THC treatment induced a shift from an M1-like phenotype to a more downregulated microglial profile. Taken together these data suggest that the chalcone 2,2′,5′-trihydroxychalcone can modulate neuroinflammatory activation in brain-derived microglia and holds promise as a therapeutic in neuroinflammatory conditions