Democrazia ateniese e moderna: evoluzione del concetto da Pericle a Bobbio.

La presente tesi cerca di dare una definizione del concetto di democrazia, considerato sia come paradigma morale, che come particolare forma di governo. Attraverso un’ampia panoramica storico-filosofica dell’Atene del V secolo a.c., viene analizzata l’esperienza democratica sotto la guida di Pericle, servendosi anche della testimonianza di autori di quel periodo come Erodoto, Tucidide e Senofonte. Attraverso le opinioni di pensatori contemporanei, come Luciano Canfora e, soprattutto, Norberto Bobbio, vengono invece analizzate le democrazie moderne e messe in evidenza le differenze sostanziali, sul piano assiologico e politico, rispetto al governo di Pericle. Dal confronto tra democrazia moderna e antica, scaturiscono discrepanze tali che sembra ormai necessario mettere in discussione la stessa continuità storica del concetto di democrazia. La crisi della rappresentanza politica moderna, come dei rapporti internazionali tra gli stati democratici, viene ricondotto, da Canfora e Bobbio, proprio a una confusione di fondo. Si conclude, quindi, con una summa del pensiero politico di Bobbio, il quale ha proposto una ridefinizione del termine democrazia, tenendo appunto conto della sua polisemia. This work try to define the concept of democracy, both as a moral paradigm and as a specific government system. Through a wide historic and philosophical overview of Athens in the V century B.C., it is defined the democratic experience under Pericle’s steering, also through that period authors’ works like Herodotus, Thucydides and Xenophon. Through the opinions of contemporary authors, as Luciano Canfora and Norberto Bobbio above all, it is examined modern democracy instead, and spotlighted the significant differences compared to Pericle’s one, whether axiological or political. Comparing the modern democracy with that ancient one, it is showed that they are so much different that is probably necessary to talk over the same historic continuity of democracy’s concept by now. The modern political crisis, both about delegation and international relations between states, is provoked by that semantic confusion. Finally, through a summa of Norberto Bobbio’s political mindset, is offered his new definition of democracy, in regard of its composed meaning

The functional link between microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) in the onset of inflammation

Many years have elapsed since the discovery of anti-inflammatories as effective therapeutics for the treatment of inflammatory-related diseases, but we are still uncovering their various mechanisms of action. Recent biochemical and pharmacological studies have shown that in different tissues and cell types lipid mediators from thearachidonic acid cascade, play a crucial role in the initiation and resolution of inflammation by shifting from pro-inflammatory prostaglandin (PG)E2 to anti-inflammatory PGD2 and PGJ2. Considering that until now very little is known about the biological effects evoked by microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 (mPGES-1) and contextually by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) modulation (key enzymes involved in PGE2 and PGD2/PGJ2metabolism), in this opinion paper we sought to define the coordinate functional regulation between these two enzymes at the "crossroads of phlogistic pathway" involved in the induction and resolution of inflammation

Modulation of the One Health Approach to Tackle Brucellosis in Buffaloes and Cattle in Two Italian Territories with Different Characteristics

The new European Union animal health law and its rule concerning brucellosis in cattle and buffaloes The authors examine the latest European Union (EU) rules concerning eradication and surveillance of brucellosis and animal infectious diseases of EU concern. The Italian rules concerning brucellosis in cattle and buffaloes Italy is included in the EU co-financed compulsory eradication and surveillance programmes for brucellosis in cattle and in buffaloes in the frame of the EU and the related Italian laws, which allowed reaching the Brucellosis Free status without vaccination (former "Officially Brucellosis Free - OBF" status) in the majority of the northern and middle Italian Regions and in some middle and southern Provinces included in Regions where the infection persists. Epidemiology of brucellosis in the EU and in Italy In the Italian Province of Caserta, the highest prevalence of brucellosis in buffaloes is reported; in 2017-2021, a total of 314 outbreaks occurred, in which 39,163 heads tested positive. Here, brucellosis is threatening not only human health and the widespread buffaloes breeding but also the important satellite activities concerning the Protected Designation of Origin (P.O.D.) cheese “Mozzarella di Bufala Campana". The authors also discuss the reemerged brucellosis in cattle in the Molise Region, which despite bordering the Province of Caserta, shows different hydrographic, orographic, and breeding characteristics. In Molise, the reemerged brucellosis had a very different epidemiological course, which allowed it to limit the adoption of One Health measures. The One Health approach to tackle brucellosis in buffaloes In order to tackle brucellosis in Campania Region and in its Province of Caserta, the One Health approach has been predisposed through strict control of animal health, human health, and the environment. The adopted model could be exportable to territories having similar characteristics

Molecular mechanism of tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone in platelet anti-aggregating effects: an integrated study of pharmacology and computational analysis.

Tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone are two pharmacologically active diterpenoids extracted from the roots of Salvia milthiorriza Bunge, a plant used in Chinese traditional medicine for the treatment of some cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease. Until now, the molecular mechanisms of action of these two diterpenoids on platelets are partially known. To clarify this aspect, here we utilized an integrated study of pharmacology and computational analysis. Our results demonstrate that cryptotanshinone is able to inhibit in a concentration dependent manner the rat platelet aggregation and also is endowed of Gi-coupled P2Y12 receptor antagonist as demonstrated by docking studies. This computational method was also performed for tanshinone IIA demonstrating even for this diterpenoid an interaction with the same receptor. The findings from our study enable a better understanding of tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone biological properties, which could ultimately lead to the development of novel pharmaceutical strategies for the treatment and/or prevention of some cardiovascular disease

Bindarit inhibits human coronary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation, migration and phenotypic switching

Bindarit, a selective inhibitor of monocyte chemotactic proteins (MCPs) synthesis, reduces neointimal formation in animal models of vascular injury and recently has been shown to inhibit in-stent late loss in a placebo-controlled phase II clinical trial. However, the mechanisms underlying the efficacy of bindarit in controlling neointimal formation/restenosis have not been fully elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the effect of bindarit on human coronary smooth muscle cells activation, drawing attention to the phenotypic modulation process, focusing on contractile proteins expression as well as proliferation and migration. The expression of contractile proteins was evaluated by western blot analysis on cultured human coronary smooth muscle cells stimulated with TNF-α (30 ng/mL) or fetal bovine serum (5%). Bindarit (100-300 µM) reduced the embryonic form of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain while increased smooth muscle α-actin and calponin in both TNF-α- and fetal bovine serum-stimulated cells. These effects were associated with the inhibition of human coronary smooth muscle cell proliferation/migration and both MCP-1 and MCP-3 production. The effect of bindarit on smooth muscle cells phenotypic switching was confirmed in vivo in the rat balloon angioplasty model. Bindarit (200 mg/Kg/day) significantly reduced the expression of the embryonic form of smooth muscle myosin heavy chain, and increased smooth muscle α-actin and calponin in the rat carodid arteries subjected to endothelial denudation. Our results demonstrate that bindarit induces the differentiated state of human coronary smooth muscle cells, suggesting a novel underlying mechanisms by which this drug inhibits neointimal formation

Platelet Antiaggregating Activity and Chemical Constituents of Salvia x Jamensis J. Compton

A phytochemical study has been carried out on the surface exudate of Salvia x jamensis, which showed a significant platelet antiaggregating activity. The known compounds isopimaric acid (2), 14-α-hydroxy-isopimaric acid (3), 3β-hydroxy-isopimaric acid (4), 7,8β-dihydrosalviacoccin (5), betulinic acid (6), and ursolic acid (7) were isolated together with the new diterpene 1. The structure of 1 was determined as 15,16-epoxy-cleroda-3-en-7α,10β-dihydroxy-12,17;19,18-diolide on the basis of spectroscopic data analysis. Among all tested compounds, 2 showed a significant concentration-dependent antiaggregating activity when ADP (3 μM) was used as agonist on rat platelets. Conversely, 1 increased ADP–induced platelet aggregation

Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Oxidant Activity of Portulaca oleracea Extract on LPS-Induced Rat Lung Injury

Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are classified as two lung complications arising from various conditions such as sepsis, trauma, and lung inflammation. Previous studies have shown that the extract of the leaves of Portulaca oleracea (PO) possesses anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. In the present study, the effects of PO (50⁻200 mg/kg) and dexamethasone (Dexa; 1.5 mg/kg) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI were investigated. Subsequentially, the lung wet/dry ratio; white blood cells (WBC); levels of nitric oxide (NO); myeloperoxidase (MPO); malondialdehyde (MDA); thiol groups formation; super oxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities; and levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-6, IL-10, prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂), and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β in the broncho alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were evaluated in order to demonstrate the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of PO. Our results show that PO suppresses lung inflammation by the reduction of IL-β, IL-6, TNF-α, PGE₂, and TGF-β, as well as by the increase of IL-10 levels. We also found that PO improves the level of WBC, MPO, and MDA, as well as thiol group formation and SOD and CAT activities, compared with the LPS group. The results of our investigation also show that PO significantly decreased the lung wet/dry ratio as an index of interstitial edema. Taken together, our findings reveal that PO extract dose-dependently displays anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity against LPS-induced rat ALI, paving the way for rational use of PO as a protective agent against lung-related inflammatory disease

First evidence for an anxiolitic effect of a diterpenoid from Salvia cinnabarina

The potential anxiolytic and anti-depressive activity of CMP1 was studied in the elevated plus-maze test and in the forced swimming test. Furthermore, CMP1 sedative activity was evaluated in pentobarbital treated animals; the effect of CMP1 on spontaneous motor activity (total locomotion) was also evaluated. Our data show that CMP1, at doses that did not affect locomotion, was able to induce anxiolytic and sedative, but not anti-depressive effects. In conclusion, our results represent first evidence for an anxiolytic activity of this diterpenoid from Salvia cinnabarina

Phosphodiesterase-1 Inhibitory Activity of Two Flavonoids Isolated from Pistacia integerrima J. L. Stewart Galls.

Pistacia integerrima is one of twenty species among the genus Pistacia. Long horn-shaped galls that develop on this plant are harvested and used in Ayurveda and Indian traditional medicine to make “karkatshringi”, a herbal medicine used for the treatment of asthma and different disorders of respiratory tract. However, until now, the molecular mechanisms of action of “karkatshringi” and its chemical characterization are partially known. This study deals with the isolation and characterization of the active constituents from the methanolic extract of P. integerrima galls and it was also oriented to evaluate in vitro and in silico their potential enzymatic inhibitory activity against phosphodiesterase-1 (PDE1), a well-known enzyme involved in airway smooth muscle activity and airway inflammation. Our results showed that the methanolic extract of P. integerrima galls and some of its active constituents [naringenin (1) and 3,5,7,4′-tetrahydroxy-flavanone (2)] are able in vitro to inhibit PDE1 activity (59.20 ± 4.95%, 75.90 ± 5.90%, and 65.25 ± 5.25%, resp.) and demonstrate in silico an interesting interaction with this enzymatic site. Taken together, our results add new knowledge of chemical constituents responsible for the biological activity of P. integerrima and contextually legitimate the use of this plant in folk medicine