MicroRNAs and cancer metabolism reprogramming : the paradigm of metformin

Increasing evidence witnesses that cancer metabolism alterations represent a critical hallmark for many types of human tumors. There is a strong need to understand and dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer metabolism to envisage specific biomarkers and underpin critical molecular components that might represent novel therapeutic targets. One challenge, that is the focus of this review, is the reprogramming of the altered metabolism of a cancer cell toward that of un-transformed cell. The anti-hyperglicemic agent, metformin has proven to be effective in reprogramming the metabolism of cancer cells even from those subpopulations endowed with cancer stem like features and very high chemoresistenace to conventional anticancer treatments. A functional interplay involving selective modulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) takes place along the anticancer metabolic effects exerted by metformin. The implications of this interplay will be also discussed in this review

Flexibility properties in Complex Analysis and Affine Algebraic Geometry

In the last decades affine algebraic varieties and Stein manifolds with big (infinite-dimensional) automorphism groups have been intensively studied. Several notions expressing that the automorphisms group is big have been proposed. All of them imply that the manifold in question is an Oka-Forstneri\v{c} manifold. This important notion has also recently merged from the intensive studies around the homotopy principle in Complex Analysis. This homotopy principle, which goes back to the 1930's, has had an enormous impact on the development of the area of Several Complex Variables and the number of its applications is constantly growing. In this overview article we present 3 classes of properties: 1. density property, 2. flexibility 3. Oka-Forstneri\v{c}. For each class we give the relevant definitions, its most significant features and explain the known implications between all these properties. Many difficult mathematical problems could be solved by applying the developed theory, we indicate some of the most spectacular ones.Comment: thanks added, minor correction

The Jet of 3C 17 and the Use of Jet Curvature as a Diagnostic of the X-ray Emission Process

We report on the X-ray emission from the radio jet of 3C 17 from Chandra observations and compare the X-ray emission with radio maps from the VLA archive and with the optical-IR archival images from the Hubble Space Telescope. X-ray detections of two knots in the 3C 17 jet are found and both of these features have optical counterparts. We derive the spectral energy distribution for the knots in the jet and give source parameters required for the various X-ray emission models, finding that both IC/CMB and synchrotron are viable to explain the high energy emission. A curious optical feature (with no radio or X-ray counterparts) possibly associated with the 3C 17 jet is described. We also discuss the use of curved jets for the problem of identifying inverse Compton X-ray emission via scattering on CMB photons.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure (3 in color), 4 tables, ApJ accepte

Optical spectroscopy of young tidal objects around two interacting galaxy pairs

We present Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph spectra of HI-rich tidal features located around the outskirts of two interacting galaxy pairs, NGC 3166/9 and NGC 4725/47. These follow-up observations are part of a multiwavelength campaign to study the properties and frequency of tidal dwarf galaxies (TDGs) in group environments. Based on the calculated gas-phase metallicity and redshift, in addition to the previously measured HI and stellar properties, we have confirmed the tidal origins of TDG candidate AGC 208457, which has emerged from the tidal debris of an interaction between the NGC 3166/9 galaxy pair. By comparing HI and optical recessional velocities, we have also confirmed a physical association of the gaseous knots and star clusters embedded in the metal-rich tidal tail of NGC 4747.Fil: Lee-Waddell, K.. CIRO Australia Telescope National Facility; AustraliaFil: Madrid, J. P.. CIRO Australia Telescope National Facility; AustraliaFil: Spekkens, K. Royal Military College of Canada; CanadáFil: Donzelli, Carlos Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Koribalski, B. S.. CIRO Australia Telescope National Facility; AustraliaFil: Serra, P.. Università Degli Studi Di Cagliari.; ItaliaFil: Cannon, J. Macalester College. Department of Physics and Astronomy; Estados Unido

Active galactic nuclei, gravitational redshifts, and cosmological tensions

Gravitational redshift is a classical effect of Einstein's General Relativity, already measured in stars, quasars and clusters of galaxies. We here identify the signature of gravitational redshift in the emission lines of active galaxies due to supermassive black holes and discuss their impact on cosmological inference from type Ia supernovae. Firstly, from the full width at half maximum of $H_{\beta}$ lines of 75 Seyfert type I galaxies of the AGN Black Hole Mass Database, we derive a gravitational redshift $z_g = (2.4 \pm 0.9) \times 10^{-4}$. Expanding this analysis to 86755 quasars from DR14 of SDSS we have a mean value $z_g \approx 2.7 \times 10^{-4}$. Then, by comparing the redshifts of 34 lines measured at the central and outer regions of LINER galaxies in the SAMI survey we obtain $z_g = (0.68 \pm 0.09) \times 10^{-4}$. These numbers are compatible with central black holes of $\approx 10^9$ solar masses and broad line regions of $\approx 1$~pc. For non-AGN galaxies the gravitational redshift is compatible with zero and, as they constitute most of SNe Ia host galaxies, the impact on the cosmological parameters is negligible.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure

Invasive pneumococcal disease in tuscany region, Italy, 2016–2017: Integrating multiple data sources to investigate underreporting

Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is a vaccine-preventable disease characterized by the presence of Streptococcus pneumoniae in normally sterile sites. Since 2007, Italy has implemented an IPD national surveillance system (IPD-NSS). This system suffers from high rates of underreporting. To estimate the level of underreporting of IPD in 2016–2017 in Tuscany (Italy), we integrated data from IPD-NSS and two other regional data sources, i.e., Tuscany regional microbiological surveillance (Microbiological Surveillance and Antibiotic Resistance in Tuscany, SMART) and hospitalization discharge records (HDRs). We collected (1) notifications to IPD-NSS, (2) SMART records positive for S. pneumoniae from normally sterile sites, and (3) hospitalization records with IPD-related International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD9) codes in discharge diagnoses. We performed data linkage of the three sources to obtain a combined surveillance system (CSS). Using the CSS, we calculated the completeness of the three sources and performed a three-source log-linear capture–recapture analysis to estimate total IPD underreporting. In total, 127 IPD cases were identified from IPD-NSS, 320 were identified from SMART, and 658 were identified from HDRs. After data linkage, a total of 904 unique cases were detected. The average yearly CSS notification rate was 12.1/100,000 inhabitants. Completeness was 14.0% for IPD-NSS, 35.4% for SMART, and 72.8% for HDRs. The capture–recapture analysis suggested a total estimate of 3419 cases of IPD (95% confidence interval (CI): 1364–5474), corresponding to an underreporting rate of 73.7% (95% CI: 34.0–83.6) for CSS. This study shows substantial underreporting in the Tuscany IPD surveillance system. Integration of available data sources may be a useful approach to complement notification-based surveillance and provide decision-makers with better information to plan effective control strategies against IPD