Degradation of long-chain n-alkanes in soil microcosms by two actinobacteria

The ability of two recently isolated actinobacteria, that degrade medium and long chain n-alkanes in laboratory water medium, was investigated in soil microcosms using different standard soils that were artificially contaminated with n-alkanes of different length (C12- C20- C24- C30). The two strains, identified as Nocardia sp. SoB and Gordonia sp. SoCp, revealed a similar high HC degradation efficiency with an average of 75% alkane degraded after 28 days incubation. A selectivity of bacteria towards n-alkanes of different length was detected as well as a consistent effect of soil texture and other soil physical chemical characteristics on degradation. It was demonstrated the specific aptitude of these selected strains towards specific environmental conditions

A Comprehensive and Systematic Diagnostic Campaign for a New Acquisition of Contemporary Art—The Case of Natura Morta by Andreina Rosa (1924–2019) at the International Gallery of Modern Art Ca’ Pesaro, Venice

A multi-analytical approach has been employed to investigate the painting Natura Morta (1954–1955) by Andreina Rosa (1924–2019) to assess the state of conservation and to understand more about the painting materials and techniques of this artwork, which was recently donated by the painter’s heirs to the International Gallery of Modern Art Ca’ Pesaro (Venice-Italy). A comprehensive and systematic diagnostic campaign was carried out, mainly adopting non-invasive imaging and spectroscopic methods, such as technical photography, optical microscopy, Hyperspectral Imaging Spectroscopy (HIS), fiber optics reflectance spectroscopy (FORS), External Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared (ER-FTIR), and Raman spectroscopies. Microsamples, collected from the edges of the canvas in areas partially detached, were studied by Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). By crossing the information gained, it was possible to make inferences about the composition of the groundings and the painted layers, the state of conservation of the artwork, and the presence of degradation phenomena. Hence, the present study may be of interest for conservation purposes as well as for enhancing the artistic activity of Andreina Rosa. The final aim was to provide useful information for the Gallery which recently included this painting in its permanent collection

Engineers’ abilities influence spatial perspective changing

In this paper we studied the effect of engineering expertise in providing directional judgments. We asked two groups of people, engineers and non-engineers, to observe and memorize five maps, each including a four-point path, for 30 sec. The path was then removed and the participants had to provide two directional judgments: aligned (the imagined perspective on the task was the same as the one just learned), and counter-aligned (the imagined perspective on the task was rotated by 180°). Our results showed that engineers are equally able to perform aligned and counter-aligned directional judgments. The alignment effect due to the distance from the learning perspective was, in fact, shown only by non-engineers. Results are discussed considering engineering both learning expertise and specific predisposition

Cell Type-specific Transcription of the α1(VI) Collagen Gene ROLE OF THE AP1 BINDING SITE AND OF THE CORE PROMOTER

Analysis of the chromatin of different cell types has identified four DNase I-hypersensitive sites in the 5′-flanking region of the α1(VI) collagen gene, mapping at −4.6, −4.4, −2.5, and −0.1 kilobase (kb) from the RNA start site. The site at −2.5 kb was independent from, whereas the other three sites could be related to, α1(VI) mRNA expression. The site at −0.1 kb was present in cells expressing (NIH3T3 and C2C12) but absent in cells not expressing (EL4) the mRNA; the remaining two sites were apparently related with high levels of mRNA. DNase I footprinting and gel-shift assays with NIH3T3 and C2C12 nuclear extracts have located a binding site for transcription factor AP1 (activator protein 1) between nucleotides −104 and −73. When nuclear extracts from EL4 lymphocytes were used, the AP1 site-containing sequence was bound by proteins not related to AP1. The existence of the hypersensitive site at −0.1 kb may be related to the binding of AP1 and of additional factors to the core promoter (Piccolo, S., Bonaldo, P., Vitale, P., Volpin, D., and Bressan, G. M. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 19583–19590). The function of the AP1 binding site and of the core promoter in the transcriptional regulation of the Col6a1gene was investigated by expressing several promoter-reporter gene constructs in transgenic mice and in cell cultures. The results indicate that regulation of transcription of the Col6a1gene by different cis-acting elements (core promoter, AP1 binding site and enhancers) is not completely modular, but the final output depends on the specific interactions among the three elements in a defined cell type

ACCELERATED STENOTIC FLOW BY ENHANCED TRANSTHORACIC DOPPLER ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IS SUPERIOR TO THE ASCVD RISK SCORE IN PREDICTING OBSTRUCTIVE CORONARY ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN PATIENTS WITH ATYPICAL ANGINA

Background: Atypical angina (AA) has only an intermediate probability of coronary obstructive atherosclerosis (COA). Accelerated stenotic flow (ASF) by enhanced Doppler echo (E-Doppler TTE) in the whole left main (LMCA) and left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) is a highly feasible and reliable approach to detect both mild and critical coronary stenosis. The ASCVD risk score is a practical, non-invasive way to risk-stratify patients for COA. The relative diagnostic potential of the 2 methods in predicting COA is unknown in pts with AA. Methods: Eighty-six pts (age 30 -75 years) with AA scheduled for Angiography (CA)/IVUS (intracoronary Doppler) underwent E-Doppler TTE and ASCVD risk score assessment. ASF was expressed as % increment of velocity. COA was defined as either coronary plaque in the LAD/LMCA detected by IVUS (76 pts) or diffuse lumen irregularities in LAD along with stenosis in the other coronaries at CA (8 pts). Results: COA was present in 59 pts (69%) and absent in 27 (31%). The ASCVD score was 14±11: 36 pts were at low risk (ASCVD<10) and the other 50 at moderate/high risk. E-Doppler TTE showed a better performance than ASCVD, with 85% sensitivity and 100% specificity (cutoff ASF 23 %) versus 66% and 59% (cutoff ASCVD score 10%), confirmed by AUC comparison (graph). Conclusion: ASF had a better predictive power than the ASCVD score for COA in pts with AA. Moreover, E-Doppler TTE can reliably assess plaque severity and location in the LAD, making it a superior clinical tool compared to the ASCVD score

#exploreART: il labirinto di A. Pomodoro e i bambini. Un progetto di fruizione condivisa con percorsi sensoriali partecipati

The contribution presents a research project conducted by Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro to formulate, design and create, together with children and teachers, and to evaluate – with the help of the University – a different approach to the experience of contemporary art. This project has been implemented thanks to co-funding provided by Fondazione Cariplo. The initial hypothesis, after many years of experimentation on the part of Fondazione Arnaldo Pomodoro in the field of art education, and in the various temporary and permanent exhibitions organized by the foundation, was to explore a series of new possibilities that underline the value of participation, in which the soundscape can also become part of a meaningful experience

Pattern of response of unresectable and metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma to programmed death-1 inhibitors: A review of the literature

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the second most frequent nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). The majority of in situ cSCC [cSCC (Tis)] can be cured surgically, while local advanced and metastatic ones require other treatments, but there are no therapies approved by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Available treatments for these stages included radiotherapy, chemotherapy as cisplatin, but responses to these treatments are usually of short duration. Programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors (pembrolizumab, nivolumab, and cemiplimab) are an innovative immunologic treatment that now has been shown to be useful for the treatment of advanced cSCC. Nowadays, data about the response rate with the use of PD-1 inhibitors in cSCC are still few and, especially, the duration of the response after the start of treatment is short. Moreover, the number of cases is too small to express the beneficial effects of these treatments, although most data reported in the literature show quite good response rates. This review focused on some of the studies and associated results through an interesting research on search engines of all the cases about these systemic drugs, analyzing effects and side effects, and the research has been conducted considering published cases since March 2016 to October 2019

IL-17A neutralizing antibody regulates monosodium urate crystal-induced gouty inflammation

Gout is a paradigm of acute, self-limiting inflammation caused by the deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals within intra-and/or peri-articular areas, leading to excruciating pain, joint swelling and stiffness. The infiltration of leukocytes drives the inflammatory response and remains an attractive target for therapeutic intervention. In this context, emerging evidence supports the view that systemic differentiation of Th17 cells and their in situ infiltration as one of the potential mechanisms by which these cells, and their main product IL-17, causes damage to target tissues. To test if IL-17 was having a detrimental role in gouty onset and progression we targeted this cytokine, using a neutralizing antibody strategy, in an experimental model of gout. Joint inflammation was induced in CD-1 mice by the intra-articular (i.a.) administration of MSU crystals (200 μg/20 μl). Animals from IL-17Ab-treated groups received 1, 3 and 10 μg (i.a.) in 20 μl of neutralizing antibody after MSU crystals administration. Thereafter, joints were scored macroscopically, and knee joint oedema determined with a caliper. Histological analysis, myeloperoxidase assay and western blots analysis for COX-2/mPGEs-1/IL-17R pathway were conducted at 18 h (peak of inflammation) to evaluate leukocytes infiltration and activation, followed by the analysis, in situ, of pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Flow cytometry was also used to evaluate the modulation of infiltrated inflammatory monocytes and systemic Th17 and Treg profile. Treatment with IL-17Ab revealed a dose-dependent reduction of joint inflammation scores with maximal inhibition at 10 μg. The neutralizing antibody was also able to significantly reduce leukocytes infiltration and MPO activity as well the expression of JE, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-16, IL-17, C5a, BLC and, with a less extent IP-10, Rantes, KC, TIMP-1, SDF-1 and metalloproteinases in inflamed tissues. Biochemical analysis also revealed that IL-17Ab treatment modulated COX-2/mPGEs-1 pathway (and related PGE2 production) without interfering with IL-17R expression. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis highlighted a selective modulation of infiltrating inflammatory monocytes (B220-/GR1hi-F480hi/CD115+) and circulating Th17, but not Treg, cells after IL-17Ab treatment. Collectively the results of this study report for the first time, that i.a. injection of MSU crystals stimulates in vivo production of Th17 cells and Th17-related inflammatory cyto-chemokines. In addition, we have demonstrated that the administration of a neutralizing antibody against IL-17 attenuates joint symptoms, swelling and leukocytes infiltration to the inflamed tissue, possibly providing a new strategy for the treatment of gouty inflammation and/or arthritis

Exploring the shape influence on melting temperature, enthalpy, and solubility of organic grug nanocrystals by a thermodynamic model

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.This paper focuses on a thermodynamic model built to predict the reduction of organic drug melting temperature and enthalpy with nanocrystal size decrease. Indeed, this valuable information enables us to evaluate the increase of drug solubility, an aspect of paramount importance for poorly water-soluble organic drugs since a solubility increase is reflected in a bioavailability enhancement. In particular, the model considers the effect of nanocrystals shape (spherical, cylindrical, and parallelepiped-shaped) and morphology (from platelet to needle nanocrystals) on the melting temperature and enthalpy reduction with crystal size decrease. Nimesulide, a typical nonsteroidal and poorly water-soluble drug with anti-inflammatory action, has been chosen as a model drug to test model reliability. Model outcomes suggest that the reduction of melting temperature and enthalpy mainly depends on the ratio between crystals surface area and volume, i.e., on the ratio between the number of surface and bulk molecules constituting the nanocrystal network. The obtained prediction of solubility enhancement and the successful comparison with the outcomes obtained from a molecular dynamics approach, in terms of melting temperature and enthalpy decrease, have confirmed the reliability of the proposed model

Phospholipase C-beta2 promotes mitosis and migration of human breast cancer-derived cells

Like most human neoplasm, breast cancer has aberrations in signal transduction elements that can lead to increased proliferative potential, apoptosis inhibition, tissue invasion and metastasis. Due to the high heterogeneity of this tumor, currently, no markers are clearly associated with the insurgence of breast cancer, as well as with its progression from in situ lesion to invasive carcinoma. We have recently demonstrated an altered expression of the beta2 isoform of the phosphoinositide-dependent phospholipase C (PLC) in invasive breast tumors with different histopathological features. In primary breast tumor cells, elevated amounts of this protein are closely correlated with a poor prognosis of patients with mammary carcinoma, suggesting that PLC-beta2 may be involved in the development and worsening of the malignant phenotype. Here we demonstrate that PLC-beta2 may improve some malignant characteristics of tumor cells, like motility and invasion capability, but it fails to induce tumorigenesis in non-transformed breast-derived cells. We also report that, compared with the G(0)/G(1) phases of the cell cycle, the cells in S/G(2)/M phases show high PLC-beta2 expressions that reach the greatest levels during the late mitotic stages. In addition, even if unable to modify the proliferation rate and the expression of cell cycle-related enzymes of malignant cells, PLC-beta2 may promote the G(2)/M progression, a critical event in cancer evolution. Since phosphoinositides, substrates of PLC, are involved in regulating cytoskeleton architecture, PLC-beta2 in breast tumor cells may mediate the modification of cell shape that characterizes cell division, motility and invasion. On the basis of these data, PLC-beta2 may constitute a molecular marker of breast tumor cells able to monitor the progression to invasive cancers and a target for novel therapeutic breast cancer strategies