Mucin Depleted Foci, Colonic Preneoplastic Lesions Lacking Muc2, Show Up-Regulation of Tlr2 but Not Bacterial Infiltration

Mucin depleted foci (MDF) are precancerous lesions of the colon in carcinogen-treated rodents and humans at high risk. Since MDF show signs of inflammation we hypothesized that the defective mucous production would expose them to the risk of being penetrated by intestinal bacteria, which can be sensed by Toll-like receptors (Tlrs) and activate inflammatory pathways. To verify this hypothesis we tested the expression of 84 genes coding for Tlrs and associated pathways using RT-qPCR in MDF (n = 7) from 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-treated rats. Among the 84 tested genes, 26 were differentially expressed in MDF with 5 genes significantly up-regulated and 21 down-regulated when compared to the normal mucosa. Tlr2, as well as other downstream genes (Map4k4, Hspd1, Irak1, Ube2n), was significantly up-regulated. Among the genes regulating the NFkB pathway, only Map4k4 was significantly up-regulated, while 19 genes were not varied and 6 were down-regulated. Tlr2 protein was weakly expressed both in normal mucosa and MDF. To determine whether inflammation observed in MDF could be caused by bacteria contacting or infiltrating crypts, we performed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments with a rRNA universal bacterial probe. None of the 21 MDF tested, showed bacteria inside the crypts, while among the colonic tumors (n = 15), only one had very few bacteria on the surface and on the surrounding normal mucosa. In conclusion, the up-regulation of Tlr2 in MDF, suggests a link between this receptor and carcinogenesis, possibly related to a defective barrier function of these lesions. The data of FISH experiments do not support the hypothesis that inflammation in MDF and tumors is stimulated by bacterial infiltration

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields do not affect DNA damage and gene expression profiles of yeast and human lymphocytes

We studied the effects of extremely low-frequency (50 Hz) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) on peripheral human blood lymphocytes and DBY747 Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Graded exposure to 50 Hz magnetic flux density was obtained with a Helmholtz coil system set at 1, 10 or 100 microT for 18 h. The effects of EMFs on DNA damage were studied with the single-cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay) in lymphocytes. Gene expression profiles of EMF-exposed human and yeast cells were evaluated with DNA microarrays containing 13,971 and 6,212 oligonucleotides, respectively. After exposure to the EMF, we did not observe an increase in the amount of strand breaks or oxidated DNA bases relative to controls or a variation in gene expression profiles. The results suggest that extremely low-frequency EMFs do not induce DNA damage or affect gene expression in these two different eukaryotic cell systems

TOX: lezioni di tossicologia

TOX is a manual aimed primarily at the Toxicology courses of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Science, that can also be profitably utilised by students following different degree courses in other Faculties (Medicine, Agriculture, Engineering)and by anyone else looking for a thorough but succinct overview of toxicological questions. TOX covers the principal sectors of general toxicology (acute and chronic toxicity, mutagenesis, teratogenesis, carcinogenesis, reproductive toxicity, oxidative damage, epidemiological methods), specialist toxicology(dietary toxicity, tobacco smoke, pesticides, N-nitroso compounds, heterocyclic amines and aromatic amines toxicity) and environmental toxicology (environmental estrogens, PAH, heavy metals, dioxins and polychlorinated di-benzo-furans, water and air pollution).TOX \ue8 un manuale scritto pensando ai corsi di Tossicologia della Facolt\ue0 di Farmacia e di Scienze, ma pu\uf2 essere utilmente utilizzato da studenti di altre Facolt\ue0 e Corsi di Laurea (Medicina, Agraria, Ingegneria) e da tutti coloro che siano interessati a un inquadramento generale, ma succinto, delle materie tossicologiche. TOX copre i principali settori della tossicologia generale (tossicit\ue0 acuta e cronica, mutagenesi, teratogenesi, cancerogenesi, tossicit\ue0 riproduttiva, danno ossidativo, metodi epidemiologici), della tossicologia speciale (tossicit\ue0 alimentare, tossicit\ue0 del fumo di tabacco, pesticidi, nitrosocomposti, ammine eterocicliche, ammine aromatiche) e della tossicologia ambientale (estrogeni ambientali, IPA, metalli pesanti, diossine e benzofurani policlorurati, inquinamento dell\u27acqua e dell\u27aria). PROMOZIONE SPECIALE: sconto del 30% sull\u27acquisto del CD-Rom, in pi\uf9... ALLEGATA IN OMAGGIO LA VERSIONE CARTACEA DEL VOLUME FINO AD ESAURIMENTO SCORTE! € 17.50 anzich\ue9 25!! CODICE PROMOZIONALE: TOX09RQbW5 Come funziona? Semplice: durante la procedura di acquisto sul sito inserisci questa stringa nell\u27apposito campo "Codice promozionale" e il sistema calcoler\ue0 lo sconto del 30%

La collezione storica di farmaci dell'Università di Firenze

Il libro illustra con un repertorio fotografico corredato di testi in italiano e in inglese la raccolta di farmaci e di droghe vegetali delle collezioni storiche dei dipartimenti di Farmacologia e di Biologia Vegetale dell'Università di Firenze. La raccolta comprende farmaci di interesse storico ancora importanti (chinino, digitale, aspirina, ecc.), accanto ad altri caduti in disuso per scarsa attività o elevata tossicità ed è un interessante esempio delle variazioni della terapia medica nel corso del '900. Le immagini fotografiche evidenziano l'alta qualità artistica dei contenitori in vetro e delle etichette e sottolineano il valore museale, oltre che scientifico, delle collezioni

Effects of Extreme Dilutions of Preparations on Gene Expression Profiles of Human Cells

Gene expression analysis has been employed in the past to test the effects of high dilutions on cell systems. However, most of the previous studies were restricted to the investigation of few dilutions, making it difficult to explore underlying mechanisms of action. Using whole-genome transcriptomic analysis, we investigated the effects of a wide range of Apis mellifica dilutions on gene expression profiles of human cells. RWPE-1 cells, a nonneoplastic adult human epithelial prostate cell line, were exposed to Apis mellifica preparations (3C, 5C, 7C, 9C, 12C, 15C, and 30C) or to the reference solvent solutions for 24 hours; nonexposed cells were also checked for gene expression variations. Our results showed that even the most diluted solutions retained the ability to trigger significant variations in gene expression. Gene pathway analysis revealed consistent variations in gene expression induced by Apis mellifica when compared to nonexposed reference cells but not to reference solvent solutions. Since the effects of Apis Mellifica at extreme dilutions did not show dose–effect relationships, the biological or functional interpretation of these results remains uncertain