The Decrease of Uch-L1 Activity Is a Common Mechanism Responsible for Aβ 42 Accumulation in Alzheimer’s and Vascular Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multifactorial pathology causing common brain spectrum disorders in affected patients. These mixed neurological disorders not only include structural AD brain changes but also cerebrovascular lesions. The main aim of the present issue is to find the factors shared by the two pathologies. The decrease of ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1 (Uch-L1), a major neuronal enzyme involved in the elimination of misfolded proteins, was observed in ischemic injury as well as in AD, but its role in the pathogenesis of AD is far to be clear. In this study we demonstrated that Uch-L1 inhibition induces BACE1 up-regulation and increases neuronal and apoptotic cell death in control as well as in transgenic AD mouse model subjected to Bengal Rose, a light-sensitive dye inducing that induces a cortical infarction through photo-activation. Under the same conditions we also found a significant activation of NF-κB. Thus, the restoration of Uch-L1 was able to completely prevent both the increase in BACE1 protein levels and the amount of cell death. Our data suggest that the Uch-L1-mediated BACE1 up-regulation could be an important mechanism responsible for Aβ peptides accumulation in vascular injury and indicate that the modulation of the activity of this enzyme could provide new therapeutic strategies in AD

Supplementation with Resveratrol, Piperine and Alpha-Tocopherol Decreases Chronic Inflammation in a Cluster of Older Adults with Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is increasing worldwide regardless of culture, genetic, gender, and geographic differences. While multiple individual risk factors, such as obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, can cause cardiovascular disease (CVD), it is the intercurrence of these risk factors that defines MetS as a cluster that creates an environment for atherosclerosis and other manifestations of CVD. Despite the advances in the knowledge and management of each of the components of MetS, there are two molecular biology processes, chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, which are still underdiagnosed and undertreated. In order to assess the effect of a dietary supplement on chronic inflammation in MetS, we conducted a clinical trial with volunteers receiving a formula composed of resveratrol, piperine and alpha tocopherol (FRAMINTROL®), together with their habitual treatment, for three months. The inflammatory state was evaluated by ultrasensitive C reactive protein (US CRP) and ferritin in plasma, and oxygen consumption and chemiluminescence in neutrophils. The results showed that ferritin decreased by 10% (p < 0.05), US-CRP by 33% (p < 0.0001), oxygen consumption by 55% (p < 0.0001), and spontaneous chemiluminiscence was by 25% (p < 0.005) after treatment. As far as we know, this is the first study showing a chronic inflammation decrease in MetS patients due to the administration of a biopower Resveratrol-piperine and alpha tocopherol dietary supplement together with conventional therapy.Fil: Pastor, Raul Francisco. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Repetto, Marisa Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Lairion, Fabiana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Lazarowski, Alberto. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica; ArgentinaFil: Merelli, Amalia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Fisiopatología y Bioquímica Clínica; ArgentinaFil: Manfredi Carabetti, Zulma. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Pastor, Isabel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Pastor, Elena. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Iermoli, Laura Valeria. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Bavasso, Carlos Amadeo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Iermoli, Roberto Héctor. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; Argentin

Un mundo escrito: Construcción de un espacio virtual-institucional para archivos de escritores de Misiones. 16H346

Este proyecto es continuación de proyectos de crítica genética que se llevaron a cabo, o están en marcha en la Secretaría de Investigación de la Facultad de Humanidades de la UNaM, que tienen como objeto manuscritos de la literatura provincial. La labor de este proyecto implica una red de acuerdos teóricos, críticos y metodológicos iniciales, un rastreo e identificación de documentos en la región y la tramitación de préstamos ante poseedores actuales de los manuscritos a la que se suma lo interdisciplinario con el diálogo entre la crítica genética y la ciencia de la computación. El proyecto se propone en esta primera etapa promover tres acciones: a) desarrollar un sitio virtual -institucional que facilite el acceso en línea a archivos de escritores regionales que se vienen estudiando en la UNaM. b) hacer un relevamiento de los archivos de manuscritos que en la actualidad se encuentran diseminados, invisibles a las investigaciones para, en ese gesto, recuperarlos e incentivar su estudio. c) diseñar y construir una base de datos y un repositorio digital de manuscritos, utilizando para esta tarea software Open Source. d) sentar las bases para un estudio sobre la factibilidad de implementar un proceso de Text Mining que automatice la recuperación de información relevante, categorice los documentos y los agrupe de acuerdo a características comunes. e) Afianzar lazos institucionales con otros proyectos existentes en Argentina (UNLP) y con UNNE y la UNLa con quien ya tenemos un convenio de colaboración en Minería de datos, con Francia (CRLA-Archivos), Bélgica (UCLovaina), España (Universidad de Castilla La Mancha)

Psychological treatments and psychotherapies in the neurorehabilitation of pain. Evidences and recommendations from the italian consensus conference on pain in neurorehabilitation

BACKGROUND: It is increasingly recognized that treating pain is crucial for effective care within neurological rehabilitation in the setting of the neurological rehabilitation. The Italian Consensus Conference on Pain in Neurorehabilitation was constituted with the purpose identifying best practices for us in this context. Along with drug therapies and physical interventions, psychological treatments have been proven to be some of the most valuable tools that can be used within a multidisciplinary approach for fostering a reduction in pain intensity. However, there is a need to elucidate what forms of psychotherapy could be effectively matched with the specific pathologies that are typically addressed by neurorehabilitation teams. OBJECTIVES: To extensively assess the available evidence which supports the use of psychological therapies for pain reduction in neurological diseases. METHODS: A systematic review of the studies evaluating the effect of psychotherapies on pain intensity in neurological disorders was performed through an electronic search using PUBMED, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Based on the level of evidence of the included studies, recommendations were outlined separately for the different conditions. RESULTS: The literature search yielded 2352 results and the final database included 400 articles. The overall strength of the recommendations was medium/low. The different forms of psychological interventions, including Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, cognitive or behavioral techniques, Mindfulness, hypnosis, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Brief Interpersonal Therapy, virtual reality interventions, various forms of biofeedback and mirror therapy were found to be effective for pain reduction in pathologies such as musculoskeletal pain, fibromyalgia, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Central Post-Stroke pain, Phantom Limb Pain, pain secondary to Spinal Cord Injury, multiple sclerosis and other debilitating syndromes, diabetic neuropathy, Medically Unexplained Symptoms, migraine and headache. CONCLUSIONS: Psychological interventions and psychotherapies are safe and effective treatments that can be used within an integrated approach for patients undergoing neurological rehabilitation for pain. The different interventions can be specifically selected depending on the disease being treated. A table of evidence and recommendations from the Italian Consensus Conference on Pain in Neurorehabilitation is also provided in the final part of the pape

What is the role of the placebo effect for pain relief in neurorehabilitation? Clinical implications from the Italian consensus conference on pain in neurorehabilitation

Background: It is increasingly acknowledged that the outcomes of medical treatments are influenced by the context of the clinical encounter through the mechanisms of the placebo effect. The phenomenon of placebo analgesia might be exploited to maximize the efficacy of neurorehabilitation treatments. Since its intensity varies across neurological disorders, the Italian Consensus Conference on Pain in Neurorehabilitation (ICCP) summarized the studies on this field to provide guidance on its use. Methods: A review of the existing reviews and meta-analyses was performed to assess the magnitude of the placebo effect in disorders that may undergo neurorehabilitation treatment. The search was performed on Pubmed using placebo, pain, and the names of neurological disorders as keywords. Methodological quality was assessed using a pre-existing checklist. Data about the magnitude of the placebo effect were extracted from the included reviews and were commented in a narrative form. Results: 11 articles were included in this review. Placebo treatments showed weak effects in central neuropathic pain (pain reduction from 0.44 to 0.66 on a 0-10 scale) and moderate effects in postherpetic neuralgia (1.16), in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (1.45), and in pain associated to HIV (1.82). Moderate effects were also found on pain due to fibromyalgia and migraine; only weak short-term effects were found in complex regional pain syndrome. Confounding variables might have influenced these results. Clinical implications: These estimates should be interpreted with caution, but underscore that the placebo effect can be exploited in neurorehabilitation programs. It is not necessary to conceal its use from the patient. Knowledge of placebo mechanisms can be used to shape the doctor-patient relationship, to reduce the use of analgesic drugs and to train the patient to become an active agent of the therapy

Poetry and resistance: Notes to think poetry at the time of social platforms

Este ensayo indaga acerca de la poesía y sus formas de resistir como discurso ycomo práctica artística/de escritura en el mundo actual. La poesía resiste a la preponderancia del género narrativo, a la insistencia de los análisis formales o formalistas y a la velocidad que va a contracorriente del detenimiento que, según algunos críticos, es necesario para la lectura del discurso poético. Otra de las formas de resistencia es a través de los pasajes y los recorridos de los poetas desde el mundo editorial al mundo múltiple de Internet y sus comunidades virtuales. Este pasaje nos lleva a pensar que la poesía se instala en un umbral y de esa posición obtiene su naturaleza paradójica y compleja en su definición. Desde esa posición límite/limítrofe, los poetas actuales exploran con su poesía el mundo del libro y las plataformas virtuales y lo hacen de diferentes maneras según el campo literario en el cual operen.This essay inquires about poetry and its forms of resistance as discourse and as artistic/writing practice in today’s world. Poetry resists the preponderance of the narrative genre, the insistence of formal or formalistic analyses and the speed that goes against the current of the detail that some critics hold is necessary for the reading of the poetic discourse. Another way of resistance is through the passages and journeys of poets from the publishing world to the multiple world of the internet and its virtual communities. This passage leads us to think that poetry settles on a threshold (which is actually a position it occupies since classical antiquity), and from that position it obtains its paradoxical nature, and difficult to define. From that boundary position, contemporary poets explore with their poetry the world of book and virtual platforms, as spaces between which they usually move.Fil: Rodriguez, Valeria Soledad. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Repetto, Carolina R.. Universidad Nacional de Misiones. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales; Argentin

K44M ferritic stainless steel as possible interconnect material for SOFC stack operating at 600 °C: Characterization of the oxidation behaviour at early working stages

reserved6siA commercial ferritic stainless steel (FSS) known as K44M (Type 444, according to ASTM A240, DIN 1.4521 according to NF EN 10088-2) was aged in static air in two differing thick-nesses (i.e. 1.5 and 0.4 mm) at a thermal cycle corresponding to the curing phase of anexperimental glass used as sealing in solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) stacks, and to an ageingprocess in air of 200 h at 600C.The characterization performed on the aged samples after the complete treatment andat each step of the thermal cycle allowed to investigate the scale formed depending on thetemperature and to the thickness of the samplesmixedPaolo Piccardo; Simone Anelli; Valeria Bongiorno; Roberto Spotorno; Luca Repetto; Pauline GirardonPiccardo, Paolo; Simone, Anelli; Bongiorno, Valeria; Spotorno, Roberto; Repetto, Luca; Pauline, Girardo