Significato biologico e possibili applicazioni cliniche del glutatione

Il glutatione è stato caratterizzato strutturalmente nel 1929 come un tripeptide formato da acido glutammico, cisteina, glicina. E' indicato con la sigla GSH poichè le sue funzioni biologiche sono principalmente associate alla presenza del gruppo sulfidrilico della cisteina che ne determina la forma attiva e lo differenzia dalla forma ossidata indicata come GSSG. In molte cellule il GSH rappresenta più del 90% dei gruppi sulfidrilici non proteici ed è pertanto il più abbondante peptide a basso peso molecolare. Il fegato sembra essere il più grande produttore e consumatore di GSH ridotto. Il GSH è il principale composto tiolico presente nel SNC dove raggiunge la massima concentrazione nella corteccia. Si ritiene che il glutatione sia importante nel determinare l'inizio e la progressione dei meccanismi di attivazione linfocitaria svolgendo quindi un ruolo nella difesa immunitaria

Plasma reduced glutathione level and changes in thiol groups after glutathione administration in drug abuser patients -

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Condylar-mandibular asymmetry, a reality

The aim of this study is to evaluate the possibility to recognize a condylar-mandibular asymmetry through a panoramic radiograph. Results from a previous work, in which 100 skulls from the Museum of the Institute of Anatomy of the University of Pavia were studied and measured, showed the presence of asymmetry. Using the same skulls we examined the possible correlation between morphological and radiological data. We did not find out correlation's between the condylar asymmetry evaluated at the anatomical level and the radiological asymmetry which was indeed found. This is probably due to the different positioning of the jaws during the two different measuring processes. Nevertheless our results confirm the daily experience of dentistry: asymmetry of mandibular condyle can be one of the mayor causes for the asymmetry of the stomatognatic apparatus

Reintroduction program of A pallipes as a promising tool for the conservation of the species in Italian Natura Sites

The Italian populations of A. pallipes has been showing a considerable fragmentation and decline on a widespread basis over recent decades, under the influence of the habitat degradation and by the introduction of non-indigenous species. The reintroduction of native crayfish into water courses is a crucial part of management and conservation strategy of the species. Some management projects have been conducted to conserve threatened populations of native crayfish in most European countries. In Italy there are few government programs and management plans for the rearing and reintroduction of A. pallipes. The most important financial instrument is LIFE program. The LIFE project “Conservation and Recovery of Austropotamobius pallipes in Italian Natura 2000 Sites – CRAINat” is taking place in 47 Italian Natura 2000 Sites in the regions of Lombardy and Abruzzo, in the provinces of Chieti and Isernia, and in the “Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park”. The project is aimed to realized specific actions of rearing for the reintroduction of young individuals of A. pallipes. In the last three years we produced 4481 young crayfish in 6 rearing centres. These crayfish were reintroduced in 17 watercourses, while 127 adults were reintroduced in 5 brooks. We have conducted monitoring actions, which have given us an important information about the outcome of reintroductions, and some indications for the future management and conservation plans of this specie

Assessment

In order to achieve an adequate oral rehabilitation after reconstruction of the jaw, a consistent prosthetic treatment is necessary. The main determinants of implant stability are the mechanical properties of the bone tissue at the implant site, and how the contact between the implant neck and the cortical bone plate is achieved. If we presume a correct surgical technique and a good implant design, the bone density determines the primary implant stability at the time of surgery. A stable implant can exhibit different degrees of displacement or resistance to load, which corresponds to varying degrees of stability. Conversely, a failed implant shows clinical mobility on the macroscale, as the implant is surrounded by a fibrous scar tissue. An increasing degree of micro-mobility is present until clinical failure of the implant. This suggests that techniques to measure and to monitor implant micro-motion/stability could give the clinician the opportunity to optimize implant treatment. Insertion torque, Periotest, and resonance frequency analysis are suitable to measure primary implant stability. Nevertheless, the resonance frequency analysis is the only method that can detect variations in different bone densities, which may be measured even during the follow-up of the implant