Prehistoric and historic monumental funerary structures in the “Chott el Jérid” area (Southern Tunisia). The importance of photogrammetry for rapid and complete documentation in Saharan contexts

As part of the Tunisian-Italian archaeological joint mission to the Sahara, a research project (survey and excavation) has focused since 2015 on the study of the funerary archaeology of the prehistoric and historical communities of southern Tunisia. The surveyed area, located along the southern and eastern edges of Chott el Jerid (governorate of Kebili), was selected, after scrutinizing the information collected by the “Service Géographique de l’Armée Française” during the early 20th century about the funerary structures. In this paper, we present two main archaeological funerary contexts and the methodology applied for the photogrammetric documentation of the architectural features of the structures. Then we present the post-processing of the point clouds carried out to obtain a complete data-set for the remote analysis of the excavation sequence of each tumulus. By adopting a multi-scalar approach, from GIS remote analysis to photogrammetric documentation of individual funerary structures, we have tried to optimize the chances of fieldwork activity, taking into consideration whilst so doing the contingencies due to the fluctuating socio-political situation that characterizes some countries of North Africa in recent years

TMEM219 regulates the transcription factor expression and proliferation of beta cells

Pancreatic beta cells replenishment is considered the next therapeutic option for type 1 diabetes; while stimulating endogenous beta cells proliferation is the “holy grail” for those patients with exhausted beta cell mass. Here we are demonstrating that the pro-apoptotic receptor TMEM219 is expressed in fetal pancreas, in beta cell precursors and in in vitro embryonic-derived endocrine progenitors. TMEM219 signaling negatively regulates beta cells at early stages and induces Caspase 8-mediated cell death. Pharmacological blockade of TMEM219 further rescued beta cell precursor and proliferation markers, and decreased cell death, both in islets and in in vitro-derived endocrine progenitors, allowing for beta cell preservation. While addressing the upstream controlling TMEM219 expression, we determined the TMEM219 miRNet; indeed, one of those miRNAs, miR-129-2, is highly expressed in human islets, particularly in patients at risk or with established type 1 diabetes. miR-129-2 mimic downregulated TMEM219 expression in islets, in in vitro embryonic-derived endocrine progenitors and in highly proliferating insulinoma-derived cells. Moreover, miR-129-2 inhibitor induced a TMEM219 overexpression in insulinoma-derived cells, which restored cell proliferation and functional markers, thus acting as endogenous regulator of TMEM219 expression. The TMEM219 upstream regulator miR129-2 controls the fate of beta cell precursors and may unleash their regenerative potentials to replenish beta cells in type 1 diabetes

El projecte de recerca arqueològica a Althiburos i els seus encontorns (El Kef, Tunísia)

El coneixement de la protohistòria del Magrib oriental –entenent com a tal l’edat del bronze i la primera edat del ferro, és a dir, el segon i el primer mil·lennis aC, de la zona que correspon a les actuals Tunísia i Algèria oriental– presenta un veritable buit. Això és evident si es compara amb l’estat de la recerca sobre el mateix període a Europa, i potser encara més amb el coneixement sobre el paleolític i el neolític al nord d’Àfrica. Per al final d’aquest període, les fonts escrites gregues i romanes aporten dades abundants sobre els regnes númides i les seves relacions complexes amb Cartago i, més tard, amb Roma. Si bé existeix documentació arqueològica sobre aquests regnes, el cert és que presenta llacunes molt importants, i que, remuntant en el temps, tenim un desconeixement gairebé absolut sobre aquesta zona des de finals del III mil·lenni aC

Prostaglandin E2 Stimulates the Expansion of Regulatory Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells in Type 1 Diabetes

Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) are multipotent stem cells that have been harnessed as a curative therapy for patients with hematological malignancies. Notably, the discovery that HSPCs are endowed with immunoregulatory properties suggests that HSPC-based therapeutic approaches may be used to treat autoimmune diseases. Indeed, infusion with HSPCs has shown promising results in the treatment of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and remains the only “experimental therapy” that has achieved a satisfactory rate of remission (nearly 60%) in T1D. Patients with newly diagnosed T1D have been successfully reverted to normoglycemia by administration of autologous HSPCs in association with a non-myeloablative immunosuppressive regimen. However, this approach is hampered by a high incidence of adverse effects linked to immunosuppression. Herein, we report that while the use of autologous HSPCs is capable of improving C-peptide production in patients with T1D, ex vivo modulation of HSPCs with prostaglandins (PGs) increases their immunoregulatory properties by upregulating expression of the immune checkpoint-signaling molecule PD-L1. Surprisingly, CXCR4 was upregulated as well, which could enhance HSPC trafficking toward the inflamed pancreatic zone. When tested in murine and human in vitro autoimmune assays, PG-modulated HSPCs were shown to abrogate the autoreactive T cell response. The use of PG-modulated HSPCs may thus provide an attractive and novel treatment of autoimmune diabetes

Darrers resultats del projecte de recerca tunisianocatalà a la ciutat numidoromana d'Althiburos i els seus encontorns

En altres números de la revista AURIGA hem tingut ocasió de donar notícies sobre els resultats obtinguts en el projecte de recerca tunisianocatalà a la ciutat númida, i després romana, d'Althiburos, a la república de Tunísia. Ens limitarem, doncs, a recordar que l'objectiu dels nostres treballs és recuperar documentació rellevant que permeti plantejar hipòtesis mínimament sòlides sobre els processos de formació i desenvolupament dels estats númides que van tenir lloc durant el primer mil·lenni aC

El projecte de recerca arqueològica a Althiburos i els seus encontorns (El Kef, Tunísia)

The archaeological digs carried out between 2006 and 2009 at Althiburos has have proved the existence of contacts with the Phoenician world since the end of the eighth century BC, as well as the adoption of Punic hydraulic techniques from the sixth century BC. The relationship with the Punic world became particularly intense from the fourth century BC. It is indicated by a significant increase in the pottery imports. There is also epigraphic evidence that demonstrates the existence of a municipal organization with strong Punic influence at least from the second century BC, when a sanctuary dedicated to Baal Hammon was also created. The intense penetration of the Punic culture raises the issue of what were the political relations between Althiburos and Carthage from the fifth century BC to the time of Massinissa; more precisely, whether the former was included in the territory of the latter, or, on the contrary, it depended on the Numidian kingdom, albeit maybe housing a Carthaginian garrison

Regenerative Therapies for Diabetic Microangiopathy

Hyperglycaemia occurring in diabetes is responsible for accelerated arterial remodeling and atherosclerosis, affecting the macro- and the microcirculatory system. Vessel injury is mainly related to deregulation of glucose homeostasis and insulin/insulin-precursors production, generation of advanced glycation end-products, reduction in nitric oxide synthesis, and oxidative and reductive stress. It occurs both at extracellular level with increased calcium and matrix proteins deposition and at intracellular level, with abnormalities of intracellular pathways and increased cell death. Peripheral arterial disease, coronary heart disease, and ischemic stroke are the main causes of morbidity/mortality in diabetic patients representing a major clinical and economic issue. Pharmacological therapies, administration of growth factors, and stem cellular strategies are the most effective approaches and will be discussed in depth in this comprehensive review covering the regenerative therapies of diabetic microangiopathy