Improving Compliance With Preventive Care: Cooperation in Mutual Health Insurance

Preventive care should be subsidized in traditional insurance contracts since policyholders ignore the benefit of their prevention choice on the insurance premium (Ellis and Manning, 2007 JHE). We study participating policies as risk-sharing agreements among policyholders who decide how much to invest in secondary prevention. We explore under which conditions these policies allow partial or even full internalization of prevention benefits in an environment with repeated interactions between policy holders. Welfare generated by the risk-sharing agreement is increasing with the size of the pool, but at the same time the pool size must not be too large for cooperation to sustain the internalization benefits.

Rat Pial Microvascular Responses to Transient Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion and Reperfusion: Quercetin’s Mechanism of Action

The aim of the present study was to assess quercetin’s mechanism of action in rat pial microvessels during transient bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (BCCAO) and reperfusion. Rat pial microcirculation was visualized using fluorescence microscopy through a closed cranial window. Pial arterioles were classified in five orders of branchings. In ischemic rats, 30 min BCCAO and 60 min reperfusion caused arteriolar diameter decrease, microvascular leakage, leukocyte adhesion in venules, and reduction of capillary perfusion. Quercetin highest dose determined dilation in all arteriolar orders, by 40 ± 4% of baseline in order 2 vessels, and prevented microvascular permeability [0.15 ± 0.02 normalized gray levels (NGL)], leukocyte adhesion, and capillary failure. Protein kinase C (PKC) inhibition exerted by chelerythrine prior to quercetin attenuated quercetin-induced effects: order 2 arterioles dilated by 19.0 ± 2.4% baseline, while there was an increase in permeability (0.40 ± 0.05 NGL) and leukocyte adhesion with a marked decrease in capillary perfusion. Tyrosine kinase (TK) inhibition by tyrphostin 47 prior to quercetin lessened smaller pial arterioles responses, dilating by 20.7 ± 2.5% of baseline, while leakage increased (0.39 ± 0.04 NGL) sustained by slight leukocyte adhesion and ameliorated capillary perfusion. Inhibition of endothelium nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) by NG-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) prior to PKC or TK reduced the quercetin’s effects on pial arteriolar diameter and leakage. eNOS inhibition by L-NAME reduced quercetin effects on pial arteriolar diameter and leakage. Finally, combined inhibition of PKC and TK prior to quercetin abolished quercetin-induced effects, decreasing eNOS expression, while blocking ATP-sensitive potassium (KATP) channels by glibenclamide suppressed arteriolar dilation. In conclusion, the protective effects of quercetin could be due to different mechanisms resulting in NO release throughout PKC and TK intracellular signaling pathway activation

Transoral robotic surgery in the management of head and neck tumours.

The article reviews the use of robotic technology for head and neck tumours. The authors discuss the development of transoral robotic surgery (TORS), the current status of the technology, and the set-up in the operating room. The article provides a review of the literature, highlighting the applications, advantages, functional outcomes, and disadvantages of TORS for each anatomic subsite (oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, parapharyngeal space, and skull base). New challenges related to reconstruction are also presented. Overall early functional and oncologic outcome data are promising; further long-term prospective trials are still needed to confirm the oncological safety of TORS. Copyright

Identification of microplastics using 4-dimethylamino-4′-nitrostilbene solvatochromic fluorescence

In this work, we introduce the use of 4-dimethylamino-4′-nitrostilbene (DANS) fluorescent dye for applications in the detection and analysis of microplastics, an impendent source of pollution made of synthetic organic polymers with a size varying from less than 5 mm to nanometer scale. The use of this dye revealed itself as a versatile, fast and sensitive tool for readily discriminate microplastics in water environment. The experimental evidences herein presented demonstrate that DANS efficiently absorbs into a variety of polymers constituting microplastics, and its solvatochromic properties lead to a positive shift of the fluorescence emission spectrum according to the polarity of the polymers. Therefore, under UV illumination, microplastics glow a specific emission spectrum from blue to red that allows for a straightforward polymer identification. In addition, we show that DANS staining gives access to different detection and analysis strategies based on fluorescence microscopy, from simple epifluorescence fragments visualization, to confocal microscopy and phasor approach for plastic components quantification

The genetic background and vitamin D supplementation can affect irisin levels in Prader–Willi syndrome

Background Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is associated to distinctive clinical symptoms, including obesity, cognitive and behavioral disorders, and bone impairment. Irisin is a myokine that acts on several target organs including brain adipose tissue and bone. The present study was finalized to explore circulating levels of irisin in children and adult PWS patients. Methods Seventy-eight subjects with PWS, 26 children (15 females, mean age 9.48 ± 3.6 years) and 52 adults (30 females, mean age 30.6 ± 10.7) were enrolled. Irisin serum levels were measured in patients and controls. Its levels were related with anthropometric and metabolic parameters, cognitive performance and bone mineral density either in pediatric or adult PWS. Multiple regression analysis was also performed. Results Irisin serum levels in PWS patients did not show different compared with controls. A more in-depth analysis showed that both pediatric and adult PWS with DEL15 displayed significantly reduced irisin levels compared to controls. Otherwise, no differences in irisin concentration were found in UPD15 patients with respect to controls. Our study revealed that in pediatric PWS the 25(OH) vitamin-D levels affected irisin serum concentration. Indeed, patients who were not supplemented with vitamin D showed lower irisin levels than controls and patients performing the supplementation. Multiple regression analysis showed that irisin levels in pediatric and adult PWS were predicted by the genetic background and 25(OH)-vitamin D levels, whereas in a group of 29 adult PWS also by intelligent Quotient. Conclusion We demonstrated the possible role of genetic background and vitamin-D supplementation on irisin serum levels in PWS patients

Phosphorylated cofilin-2 is more prone to oxidative modifications on Cys39 and favors amyloid fibril formation

Cofilins are small protein of the actin depolymerizing family. Actin polymerization/depolymerization is central to a number of critical cellular physiological tasks making cofilin a key protein for several physiological functions of the cell. Cofilin activity is mainly regulated by phosphorylation on serine residue 3 making this post-translational modification key to the regulation of myofilament integrity. In fact, in this form, the protein segregates in myocardial aggregates in human idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Since myofilament network is an early target of oxidative stress we investigated the molecular changes induced by oxidation on cofilin isoforms and their interplay with the protein phosphorylation state to get insight on whether/how those changes may predispose to early protein aggregation. Using different and complementary approaches we characterized the aggregation properties of cofilin-2 and its phosphomimetic variant (S3D) in response to oxidative stress in silico, in vitro and on isolated cardiomyocytes. We found that the phosphorylated (inactive) form of cofilin-2 is mechanistically linked to the formation of an extended network of fibrillar structures induced by oxidative stress via the formation of a disulfide bond between Cys39 and Cys80. Such phosphorylation-dependent effect is likely controlled by changes in the hydrogen bonding network involving Cys39. We found that the sulfide ion inhibits the formation of such structures. This might represent the mechanism for the protective effect of the therapeutic agent Na2S on ischemic injury

Caracterización morfológica de variedades de vid para producción de Pisco bajo condiciones de la zona media del valle de Ica, Perú

This work consists in the morphological characterization of eight Pisco grapes varieties “Torontel, Italia, Mollar, Quebranta, Negra criolla, Albilla, Moscatel and Uvina” cultivated in the CITEagroindustrial, based on the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) list of descriptors for vine varieties and Vitis species, version 2009. Some ampelographic characters such as berry color and shape during the phenological stage are general knowledge, however the 56 descriptors in different phenological stages highlight differences. Therefore, the description of the varieties provides a greater precision to the characterization and serves as a guide to the producers of Pisco and producers of grapes, for a simple and correct identification of their plants in the field, avoiding the confusion that currently exists in the Identification of the different varieties, such as homonymy and incorrect identification.El estudio consiste en la caracterización morfológica de las ocho variedades de uvas pisqueras “Torontel, Italia, Mollar, Quebranta, Negra criolla, Albilla, Moscatel y Uvina” cultivadas en el CITEagroindustrial. Se utilizó la lista de descriptores de la Organización Internacional de la Viña y del Vino para variedades de vid y especies de Vitis versión 2009. Algunos de los caracteres ampelográficos como el color y forma de las bayas del estado fenológico de maduración es información generalizada; sin embargo, al evaluar los 56 descriptores en otros estados fenológicos se observan diferencias. Por lo tanto, la descripción de las variedades que se muestran aportan una mayor precisión a la caracterización y sirven de guía a los productores de Pisco y productores de uvas para la sencilla y correcta identificación en campo de sus plantas, ya que existe confusión en la identificación de las distintas variedades, como la homonimia y la identificación incorrecta de variedades

Electrochemical data on redox properties of human Cofilin-2 and its Mutant S3D

The reported data are related to a research paper entitled "Phosphorylated cofilin-2 is more prone to oxidative modifications on Cys39 and favors amyloid fibril formation" [1]. Info about the formation and redox properties of the disulfide bridge of a protein is quite difficult to obtain and only in a few cases was it possible to observe a cyclic voltammetry (CV) signal [2,3]. Human cofilin-2 contains two cysteines (Cys39 and Cys80) which can be oxidized in suitable conditions and form a disulfide bridge [1]. For this purpose, CV measurements were carried out on human cofilin-2 WT and its mutant S3D immobilized on a gold electrode coated by an anionic self-assembled monolayer (SAM), after a pre-oxidation time which was fundamental for observing a CV signal relating to the oxidation/reduction process of the disulfide bridge of the proteins. The data include CV curves obtained with and without electrochemical pre-oxidation and after oxidation with H2O2. In addition, the plot of the cathodic peak current vs. electrochemical pre-oxidation time and the pH dependence of the formal potential (E°’) are reported. The data obtained by CV measurements were used to determine the time required to form the disulfide bridge for the immobilized proteins and, consequently, to observe the CV signal, to calculate the E°’ values and analyse the pH dependence of E°’. The electrochemical data were provided which will be useful for further electrochemical investigations regarding proteins bearing disulfide bridge(s) or cysteines prone to oxidation

β-Glucuronidase triggers extracellular MMAE release from an integrin-targeted conjugate

A non-internalizing \u3b1v\u3b23 integrin ligand was conjugated to the anticancer drug MMAE through a \u3b2-glucuronidase-responsive linker. In the presence of \u3b2-glucuronidase, only the conjugate bearing a PEG4 spacer inhibited the proliferation of integrin-expressing cancer cells at low nanomolar concentrations, indicating important structural requirements for the efficacy of these therapeutics