639 research outputs found
Geology of the Fontane talc mineralization (Germanasca valley, Italian Western Alps)
The 1:5000 scale Geological Map of the Fontane talc mineralization (FTM) aims to give new information about the origin and geological structure of an important talc mineralization occurring in the axial sector of the Italian Western Alps. The FTM is hosted within a pre-Carboniferous polymetamorphic complex which was deformed and metamorphosed during both Variscan and Alpine orogenesis, and is part of the Dora-Maira continental crust. Field mapping and underground investigations highlight that the talc bodies (i) never crop out but occur at depth along a well-defined lithostratigraphic association between micaschist, marble and gneiss and (ii) were deformed during different Alpine-related deformation phases (i.e. D1, D2 and D3 syn-metamorphic phases and post-metamorphic extensional faulting). The here defined lithostratigraphic and structural characterization of talc bodies, is an input for further research into the geodynamic context of where talc forms and for new mineral exploration outside the mapped area
Proyecto: ProlongaciĂłn avenida Leopoldo Lugones ciudad de Santiago del Estero
Práctica Supervisada (IC)--FCEFN-UNC, 2013Presenta el diseño de la prolongaciĂłn de Av. Lugones que se encuentra al noroeste de la ciudad de Santiago del Estero, sobre la traza de las antiguas vĂas del ferrocarril, vinculando en su totalidad de recorrido a Av. de CircunvalaciĂłn al sur con Av. Núñez del Prado al norte. Lo principal de dicha obra es el de mejorar la travesĂa urbana en la direcciĂłn norte-sur de la ciudad de Santiago del Estero y por otra parte revalorizar el sector urbano en la zona de las vĂas fĂ©rrea
COX-1 Inhibitors: Beyond Structure Toward Therapy
Biosynthesis of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid (AA) is catalyzed by cyclooxygenase (COX), which exists as COX-1 and COX-2. AA is in turn released from the cell membrane upon neopathological stimuli. COX inhibitors interfere in this catalytic and disease onset process. The recent prominent discovery involvements of COX-1 are mainly in cancer and inflammation. Five classes of COX-1 inhibitors are known up to now and this classification is based on chemical features of both synthetic compounds and substances from natural sources. Physicochemical interactions identification between such molecules and COX-1 active site was achieved through X-ray, mutagenesis experiments, specific assays and docking investigations, as well as through a pharmacometric predictive model building. All these insights allowed the design of new highly selective COX-1 inhibitors to be tested into those disease models in which COX-1 is involved. Particularly, COX-1 is expressed at high levels in the early to advanced stages of human epithelial ovarian cancer, and it also seems to play a pivotal role in cancer progression. The refinement of COX-1 selective inhibitor structure has progressed to the stage that some of the inhibitors described in this review could be considered as promising active principle ingredients of drugs and hence part of specific therapeutic protocols. This review aims to outline achievements, in the last 5 years, dealing with the identification of highly selective synthetic and from plant extracts COX-1 inhibitors and their theranostic use in neuroinflammation and ovarian cancer. Their gastrotoxic effect is also discussed
General role of the amino and methylsulfamoyl groups in selective cyclooxygenase(COX)-1 inhibition by 1,4-diaryl-1,2,3-triazoles and validation of a predictive pharmacometric PLS model
A novel set of 1,4-diaryl-1,2,3-triazoles were projected as a tool to study the effect of both the heteroaromatic triazole as a core ring and a variety of chemical groups with different electronic features, size and shape on the catalytic activity of the two COX isoenzymes. The new triazoles were synthesized in fair to good yields and then evaluated for their inhibitory activity towards COXs arachidonic acid conversion catalysis. Their COXs selectivity was also measured. A predictive pharmacometric Volsurf plus model, experimentally confirmed by the percentage (%) of COXs inhibition at the concentration of 50 ÎĽM and IC50 values of the tested compounds, was built by using a number of isoxazoles of known COXs inhibitory activity as a training set. It was found that two compounds {4-(5-methyl-4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)benzenamine (18) and 4-[1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-yl]benzenamine (19)} bearing an amino group (NH2) are potent and selective COX-1 inhibitors (IC50 Combining double low line 15 and 3 ÎĽM, respectively) and that the presence of a methylsulfamoyl group (SO2CH3) is not a rule to have a Coxib. In fact, 4-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-methyl-1-[4-(methylsulfonyl)phenyl]-1H-1,2,3-triazole (23) has COX-1 IC50 Combining double low line 23 ÎĽM and was found inactive towards COX-2
Epirubicin. A new entry in the list of fetal cardiotoxic drugs? Intrauterine death of one fetus in a twin pregnancy. Case report and review of literature
BACKGROUND: Current knowledge indicate that epirubicin administration in late
pregnancy is almost devoid of any fetal cardiotoxicity. We report a twin
pregnancy complicated by breast cancer in which epirubicin administration was
causatively linked to the death of one twin who was small for gestational age
(SGA) and in a condition of oligohydramnios and determined the onset of a
transient cardiotoxicity of the surviving fetus/newborn.
CASE PRESENTATION: A 38-year-old caucasic woman with a dichorionic twin pregnancy
was referred to our center at 20 and 1/7Â weeks for a suspected breast cancer,
later confirmed by the histopathology report. At 31 and 3/7Â weeks, after the
second chemotherapy cycle, ultrasound examination evidenced the demise of one
twin while cardiac examination revealed a monophasic diastolic ventricular
filling, i.e. a diastolic dysfunction of the surviving fetus who was delivered
the following day due to the occurrence of grade II placental abruption. The role
of epirubicin cardiotoxicity in the death of the first twin was supported by
post-mortem cardiac and placental examination and by the absence of structural or
genomic abnormalities that may indicate an alternative etiology of fetal demise.
The occurrence of epirubicin cardiotoxicity in the surviving newborn was
confirmed by the report of high levels of troponin and transient left ventricular
septal hypokinesia.
CONCLUSION: Based on our findings we suggest that epirubicin administration in
pregnancy should be preceded by the screening of some fetal conditions like SGA
and oligohydramnios that may increase its cardiotoxicity and that, during
treatment, the diastolic function of the fetal right ventricle should be
specifically monitored by a pediatric cardiologist; also, epirubicin and
desamethasone for lung maturation should not be closely administered since
placental effects of glucocorticoids may increase epirubicin toxicity
Attitude towards drug therapy in a Community Mental Health Center evaluated by the Drug Attitude Inventory
Introduction: Negative attitude towards drug therapy can foster limited adherence to
treatment, which remains one of the biggest obstacles for implementing effective treatments,
especially long term.
Purposes: The purposes of the study were 1) to evaluate the attitude towards drug therapy
among a representative sample of patients treated in a community psychiatric service using
30-item Drug Attitude Inventory (DAI-30); 2) to evaluate the DAI-30 dimensions, applying
factorial analysis; and 3) to highlight the socio-demographic and clinical variables correlated
to DAI-30 score and factors.
Methods: The DAI was administered, over a 7-month period, to all patients treated in our
psychiatric outpatient services who agreed to participate in this study and provided their
informed consent. Data were statistically analyzed.
Results: With a response rate of 63.3%, 164 females and 136 males completed the DAI-30
with an average score of 14.24 (±10.46 SD), indicating moderately positive attitude towards
drug therapy. The analysis of DAI-30 internal consistency confirmed its reliability
(Cronbach’s alpha=0.84). Our factorial analysis highlighted three factors: Factor 1
(Cronbach’s alpha=0.81), composed of 7 items which indicate positive, trustful attitude;
Factor 2 (Cronbach’s alpha=0.78), composed of 5 items indicating negative attitude of
suspiciousness; and Factor 3 (Cronbach’s alpha=0.66), composed of 4 items suggesting
defensive and control attitude towards drug therapy.
Discussion: Among the selected variables, “monotherapy” and “total number of hospitalizations”
were negatively correlated to the final score of DAI-30, whereas being “married”
was positively correlated to it, in a statistically significant way, using the multiple linear
regression model. These correlations suggest that positive attitude towards drug therapy
could be reinforced by the condition of being married and reduced by relapses with
hospitalization, as literature highlighted, and, paradoxically, by a monotherapy, which
could suggest a sort of psychological dependence on therapy and, indirectly, on psychiatric
service, potentially correlated to the long-term treatments of our patients
Current practice of iron prophylaxis in preterm and low birth weight neonates: A survey among Italian Neonatal Units.
Background: Preterm babies are at high risk of iron deficiency. Methods: We investigated current practices regarding iron prophylaxis in preterm and low birth weight newborns among Local Neonatal Units (LNUs, n = 74) and Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs, n = 20) of three Italian Regions (Piemonte, Marche and Lazio). Results: Birth weight is considered an indicative parameter in only 64% of LNUs and 71% of NICUs, with a significant difference between LNUs in the three regions (86%, 20% and 62%, respectively; p < 0.001). Iron is recommended to infants with a birth weight between 2000 and 2500 g in only 25% of LNUs and 21% of NICUs, and to late-preterm (gestational age between 34 and 37 weeks) in a minority of Units (26% of LNUs, 7% of NICUs). Conclusions: Our pilot survey documents a great variability and the urgent need to standardize practices according to literature recommendations. Key Words: iron, iron deficiency anemia, newborn, preterm, prophylaxi
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