IL GENERE LEPUS IN ITALIA: CHIAVI DIAGNOSTICHE MORFO-ODONTOLOGICHE E CONTRIBUTI PALEOBIOGEOGRAFICI

This work aims both to propose some new dental characters which are useful to achieve an accurate specific discrimination within genus Lepus, between Lepus europaeus (European hare), Lepus timidus (Mountain hare), Lepus corsicanus (Italian hare) and Lepus capensis (Cape hare) and to suggest a reconstruction of the natural history and the palaeobiogeography of genus Lepus in Italy using the dental characters identified. The first part of the work is focused on the morphological examination of dental remains of the four hare species, starting from the analysis of some European osteological collections of hares (Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Museo di Storia Naturale Milano, Collezione ISPRA Ozzano dell\u2019Emilia). More specifically, the cross section morphology of three classes of samples was examined: third lower premolar (P3), second upper premolar (P2) and third upper premolar (P3). This led to the identification of 12 morphological characters and consequently to the creation of three morpho-odontological keys, a diagnostic tool for distinguishing the four Lepus species. The second part of the work focused on the analysis of dental remains from Italian Pleistocene sites using the diagnostic keys defined in the first part of the work. The aim of this analysis was to define the time range in which Lepus europaeus reached Italy. Evidence was found of the presence of Lepus corsicanus in the north of Italy (Riparo di Visogliano \u2013 Trieste) during the first part of middle Pleistocene. The analysis of dental remains from other sites located in the province of Verona allowed to set the time range in which Lepus europaeus reached north of Italy, thus substituting Lepus corsicanus in this area, towards the end of middle Pleistocene

La cattedrale, cuore religioso della città

Si ripercorrono alcune tappe del ruolo del Duomo di Milano nella storia della citt\ue0, per grandissime linee. In tale sede, almeno sino alla fine dell\u2019ancien r\ue9gime, avevano luogo i grandi eventi della vita politica e civile, seppur non senza tensioni. La cattedrale era il cuore della citt\ue0, in primo luogo il cuore liturgico e pastorale della vita religiosa. Si segnala lo sfarzo delle cerimonie straordinarie che vi si svolgevano, il ruolo della musica e, in particolare, la funzione del luogo e delle sue cerimonie nel contesto dell\u2019azione degli arcivescovi. Seppur in forme diverse rispetto al passato, alcuni aspetti della ritualit\ue0 e della centralit\ue0 del Duomo giungono sino ai nostri giorni.The article offers an overview of the history of the cathedral of Milan in the context of the city. For a long period - at least until the end of the ancien r\ue9gime - the Duomo housed the most important events of the city and was often the theatre of tensions between ecclesiastical and political authorities. The cathedral was the heart of the city and the center of pastoral activities and of religious life. Splendid ceremonies, often accompanied by music, took place in the Duomo, highlighting the importance of the bishops in the city. Even though in a different way compared to the past, some aspects of the rituality and centrality of the Duomo are still relevant today

Action of Ganoderma lucidum mycelial growth filtrates on Erysiphe dffusa and embryotoxicity assessment in a chicken embryo model

This work aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of Ganoderma lucidum mycelial growth filtrates (MGF) on the phytopathogen Erysiphe diffusa and their potential effects on the embryonic development of Gallus gallus. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated on E. diffusa spores by the microdilution broth method. To evaluate embryotoxic and teratogenic effects, fertile eggs of G. gallus received injections of solutions containing the filtrates of G. lucidum through the air chamber. After three days of incubation, we opened the eggs and evaluated egg viability, embryo survival, malformation occurrence, embryonic staging and heart rate. Live embryos were prepared using whole mount technique and the morphological analysis was performed. We used the generalized linear model to fit embryotoxicity and teratogenicity data. We verified that G. lucidum MGF showed inhibitory activity in vitro against E. diffusa and the minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 5 to 10 mg/mL. We could also observe that the filtrates did not present embryotoxic or teratogenic effects on the early embryonic development of G. gallus, but induced significant differences in the embryonic mean heart rate and on the stage of embryonic development

Atrial natriuretic peptide effects on intracellular pH changes and ROS production in HEPG2 cells: Role of p38 MAPK and phospholipase D

Aims: The present study was performed to evaluate Atrial Natriuretic Peptide ( ANP) effects on intracellular pH, phospholipase D and ROS production and the possible relationship among them in HepG2 cells. Cancer extracellular microenvironment is more acidic than normal tissues and the activation of NHE- 1, the only system able to regulate pHi homeostasis in this condition, can represent an important event in cell proliferation and malignant transformation. Methods: The ANP effects on pHi were evaluated by fluorescence spectrometry. The effects on p38 MAPK and ROS production were evaluated by immunoblots and analysis of DCF- DA fluorescence, respectively. RT- PCR analysis and Western blotting were used to determine the ANP effect on mRNA NHE- 1 expression and protein levels. PLD- catalyzed conversion of phosphatidylcholine to phosphatydilethanol ( PetOH), in the presence of ethanol, was monitored by thin layer chromatography. Results: A significant pHi decrease was observed in ANP- treated HepG2 cells and this effect was paralleled by the enhancement of PLD activity and ROS production. The ANP effect on pHi was coupled to an increased p38 MAPK phosphorylation and a down- regulation of mRNA NHE- 1 expression and protein levels. Moreover, the relationship between PLD and ROS production was demonstrated by calphostin- c, a potent inhibitor of PLD. At the same time, all assessed ANP- effects were mediated by NPR- C receptors. Conclusion: Our results indicate that ANP recruits a signal pathway associated with p38 MAPK, NHE- 1 and PLD responsible for ROS production, suggesting a possible role for ANP as novel modulator of ROS generation in HepG2 cells. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel