An awkward fishing expedition

We report the case of a patient, among a group of five, in a small outbreak of histamine fish poisoning (HFP). The epidemic character of the ailment led us to the correct diagnosis. In this case, the diagnosis was also associated with a Kounis syndrome (KS). Literature concerning this subject is reviewed, reporting recent physiopathological data

AsiFood and its output and prospects: An Erasmus+ project on capacity building in food safety and quality for South-East Asia

The Asifood project is a capacity building project in the field of higher education involving collaboration among thirteen partners from Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Austria, Belgium, Italy and France. This project aimed to support the universities in Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia in building their capacities and their link with professionals in food safety and food quality, in the context of ASEAN integration. Further, training for trainers around a key theme, ‘food safety and quality’ for partner countries was set up involving students and teachers, professional stakeholders, political decision-makers and association leaders. During the first year of the project, study and diagnostic phase were carried out to properly assess the training as per each university needs. In the second year, the training paths around three axes: courses, quality and laboratory analysis were conducted. Finally, a test phase was carried out with the partners by inserting the modules created in the bachelor's and master's degree courses offered by the universities as well as short term trainings on innovations in food safety and quali

The Herbicide Atrazine Activates Endocrine Gene Networks via Non-Steroidal NR5A Nuclear Receptors in Fish and Mammalian Cells

Atrazine (ATR) remains a widely used broadleaf herbicide in the United States despite the fact that this s-chlorotriazine has been linked to reproductive abnormalities in fish and amphibians. Here, using zebrafish we report that environmentally relevant ATR concentrations elevated zcyp19a1 expression encoding aromatase (2.2 µg/L), and increased the ratio of female to male fish (22 µg/L). ATR selectively increased zcyp19a1, a known gene target of the nuclear receptor SF-1 (NR5A1), whereas zcyp19a2, which is estrogen responsive, remained unchanged. Remarkably, in mammalian cells ATR functions in a cell-specific manner to upregulate SF-1 targets and other genes critical for steroid synthesis and reproduction, including Cyp19A1, StAR, Cyp11A1, hCG, FSTL3, LHß, INHα, αGSU, and 11ß-HSD2. Our data appear to eliminate the possibility that ATR directly affects SF-1 DNA- or ligand-binding. Instead, we suggest that the stimulatory effects of ATR on the NR5A receptor subfamily (SF-1, LRH-1, and zff1d) are likely mediated by receptor phosphorylation, amplification of cAMP and PI3K signaling, and possibly an increase in the cAMP-responsive cellular kinase SGK-1, which is known to be upregulated in infertile women. Taken together, we propose that this pervasive and persistent environmental chemical alters hormone networks via convergence of NR5A activity and cAMP signaling, to potentially disrupt normal endocrine development and function in lower and higher vertebrates

In vitro differential responses of rat and human aryl hydrocarbon receptor to two distinct ligands and to different polyphenols

Protecte

Levels of dioxin in serum of pregnant women living nearby a paper mill industry, in the province of Valdivia, Chili

peer reviewe

Receptor-based screening assays: New perspectives in anti-doping control

peer reviewedThe so-called "growth promoters", steroid hormones and beta-agonists, are currently controlled by using hyphenated analytical methods (chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry) or, sometimes for screening purposes, on immunoassays. These methods are often too specific to allow an effective multianalyte control. To develop more efficient assays, the use of hormonal receptors as detection tools (receptor-based binding assays and cell-based assays) is proposed. Receptor-based assays represent useful tools in screening of hormonal residues in food, but they could also be applied in doping control (to detect "new" hormonal substances). Furthermore, these assays could be used to monitor the human exposure to endocrine disruptors

Purification and biochemical characterization of recombinant human placental growth hormone produced in Escherichia coli.

The hGH-V (or hGH-2) gene codes for human placental growth hormone (hPGH). Secretion of hPGH is continuous, in contrast with the pulsed secretion of pituitary growth hormone (hGH) which it progressively replaces in the maternal bloodstream. hGH-V cDNA has previously been cloned and isolated. Analysis of its nucleotide sequence has revealed a 191-residue protein, hPGH, differing from hGH at 13 positions. The calculated pI is more basic than that of the pituitary hormone. Here we have inserted hGH-V cDNA into the pIN-III-ompA3 plasmid in order to produce hPGH in its native form in Escherichia coli D1210. Expression of hGH-V cDNA in E. coli is significantly lower than that of hGH cDNA with the same expression system. The hPGH produced in E. coli was purified in quantities sufficient to allow its biochemical and immunochemical characterization. The molecular mass of the protein was determined by electrospray m.s. The determined mass, 22,320 Da, agrees well with the molecular mass calculated from the translated cDNA sequence, assuming the presence of two disulphide bridges. Having established the technique for producing hPGH with a primary structure identical to the natural, non-glycosylated, 22 kDa isoform, we can now plan the full physicochemical and pharmaceutical characterization of this new hormonal entity

Astronomia a Roma. Percorsi

Sono presentati alcuni luoghi di Roma nella loro peculiarità di luoghi legati alla storia dell'Astronomia e alla ricerca astronomica. Sono presentati alcuni elementi di astronomia di posizione e alcuni strumenti matematici e concreti per aiutare la comprensione dei luoghi nelle visite didattiche