The Gateway approach providing EGEE/GLITE access to non-standard architectures

This paper describes the gateway architecture and the required modifications to the gLite Middleware to make available to the GRID computing machines whose hardware/software architecture is non directly supported by gLite. This work has been performed in the framework of the integration of ENEA-GRID and EGEE infrastructure

GRANULOMATOUS MASTITIS DURING CHRONIC ANTIDEPRESSANT THERAPY: IS IT POSSIBLE A CONSERVATIVE THERAPEUTIC APPROACH?

Granulomatous mastitis is a rare benign inflammatory disease of the breast with multiple etiologies such as tuberculosis, sarcoidosis, foreign body reaction, and mycotic and parasitic infections. In contrast, idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is characterized by the presence of chronic granulomatous lobulitis in the absence of an obvious etiology. Clinically and radiologically it may mimic breast carcinoma and so awareness of surgeons, pathologists, and radiologists is essential to avoid unnecessary mastectomies. cases of IGM are reported during antidepressant therapy in patient also showing high levels of prolactinemia. in these cases, we believe that surgical excision must be avoided being replaced with a conservative management of the pathological condition based on corticosteroid treatment

USO DI PROTESI IN GORE-TEX NELLA PREVENZIONE DELLA SINDROME COMPARTIMENTALE POST TRAPIANTO DI RENE

Introduzione:La sindrome compartimentale post trapianto di rene è una precoce complicanza che, in assenza di un tempestivo trattamento, può avere degli effetti devastanti fino alla perdita del graft. Tale sindrome si verifica quando lo spazio di allocamento nel contesto del retroperitoneo è inferiore rispetto alle dimensioni del rene con conseguente aumento della pressione in tale spazio che determina come ultimo evento l’arresto dell’apporto ematico al graft e la seguente sua ischemia. In questo abstract descriviamo la tecnica e riportiamo la nostra esperienza nell’utilizzo di protesi di gore-tex nella prevenzione e nel trattamento della sindrome compartimentale. Materiali e metodi:Abbiamo sottoposto a trapianto renale una paziente di sesso femminile di 42 anni di età in trattamento emodialitico da circa 5 anni. In seconda giornata postoperatoria persistendo la condizione di anuria veniva eseguita una ecografia del graft con integrazione doppler. L’esame diagnostico evidenziava un organo lievemente aumentato di volume con un incremento degli indici di resistenza sia arterioso che venoso. Per tale motivo la paziente veniva sottoposta ad intervento chirurgico con il posizionamento di protesi in gore-tex ancorata alla fascia dei muscoli larghi dell’addome. Al controllo ecocolordoppler postoperatorio veniva evidenziata una normalizzazione del flusso e degli indici di resistenza ed in ottava giornata postoperatoria si assisteva alla ripresa della funzione escretrice. Conclusioni:Alla luce della nostra esperienza in tutti quei casi in cui si ha una notevole difficoltà nell’alloggiamento retroperitoneale perl notevole dimensione del graft a fronte di una particolare ristrettezza del piccolo bacino e/o per obedità del ricevente l’uso della protesi in gore-tex dual-mash a diretto contatto con il graft consentirebbe un’accostamento del sovrastante piano muscolo-aponeurotico senza alcuna tensione (tension fee) dei margini di accostamento il che eviterebbe un’eccessiva compressione del rene all’interno della neo loggia renale

Evidence of Bioactive Compounds from Vernonia polyanthes Leaves with Topical Anti-Inflammatory Potential

Vernonia polyanthes Less. (Asteraceae), popularly known as “assa-peixe”, is a plant species used in Brazilian traditional medicine for the treatment of cutaneous damage, cicatrization, inflammation, and rheumatism. Based on these ethnopharmacological findings, the current study evaluated the topical anti-inflammatory effects of the hexane (HEVP) and ethyl acetate (EAEVP) extracts from V. polyanthes leaves in experimental models of skin inflammation. Chemical characterization was carried out by HPLC–UV/DAD analysis. Anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using Croton oil-, arachidonic acid (AA)-, phenol-, ethyl phenylpropiolate (EPP)-, and capsaicin-induced ear edema models in mice. Histopathological evaluation and measurements of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase (NAG) enzymes were also performed. Rutin, luteolin, and apigenin were identified in EAEVP. Topically applied HEVP and EAEVP significantly (p < 0.05, p < 0.01 or p < 0.001) reduced edema induced by five different irritants at the doses tested (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/ear). Histopathological analysis revealed a reduction of edema, inflammatory cell infiltration, and vasodilation. In addition, the enzymes activity (MPO and NAG) in the ear tissues was reduced by the topical treatment of HEVP and EAEVP (p < 0.05, p < 0.01 or p < 0.001). The results suggest that V. polyanthes leaves are effective against cutaneous damage, which support its traditional use and open up new possibilities for the treatment of skin disorders

Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Activities of Psychorubrin, a Pyranonaphthoquinone Isolated From Mitracarpus frigidus (Rubiaceae)

Psychorubrin, a natural pyranonaphthoquinone found in different plants, has become an interesting compound in the search for new antimicrobial therapeutic agents. Here, we investigated the potential antagonistic activity of psychorubrin against planktonic and biofilm bacteria. First, psychorubrin was tested against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains by a broth microdilution susceptibility method. Second, bacterial killing assay, bacterial abundance, and membrane viability were evaluated. The nucleotide leakage assay was used to verify membrane destabilization while antibiofilm activities were analyzed by the effect on established biofilm, static biofilm formation, isolation of biofilm matrix assay and scanning electron microscopy. In parallel, the combinatorial effect of psychorubrin and chloramphenicol was evaluated by the checkerboard method. Psychorubrin was active against Gram-positive bacteria, showing rapid time-dependent kinetics of bacterial killing, amplified nucleotide leakage, and greater activity against the methicillin-resistant species (MRSA) Staphylococcus aureus 33591 and 33592 and Staphylococcus pyogenes 10096. Psychorubrin also interfered with the composition of the biofilm matrix by reducing the total content of carbohydrates and proteins. A synergic effect between psychorubrin and chloramphenicol was observed for S. aureus 33592 and S. pyogenes 10096 while an additive effect was detected for S. aureus 33591. Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, an antagonistic activity of psychorubrin against bacteria not only in their planktonic forms but also in biofilms, and identify bacterial membranes as primary targets for this compound. Based on these observations, psychorubrin has a good potential for the design of novel antimicrobial agents