Theonella: A Treasure Trove of Structurally Unique and Biologically Active Sterols

: The marine environment is considered a vast source in the discovery of structurally unique bioactive secondary metabolites. Among marine invertebrates, the sponge Theonella spp. represents an arsenal of novel compounds ranging from peptides, alkaloids, terpenes, macrolides, and sterols. In this review, we summarize the recent reports on sterols isolated from this amazing sponge, describing their structural features and peculiar biological activities. We also discuss the total syntheses of solomonsterols A and B and the medicinal chemistry modifications on theonellasterol and conicasterol, focusing on the effect of chemical transformations on the biological activity of this class of metabolites. The promising compounds identified from Theonella spp. possess pronounced biological activity on nuclear receptors or cytotoxicity and result in promising candidates for extended preclinical evaluations. The identification of naturally occurring and semisynthetic marine bioactive sterols reaffirms the utility of examining natural product libraries for the discovery of new therapeutical approach to human diseases

Ectopic adrenal tissue in equine gonads: morphofunctional features

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Food Policy Processes in the City of Rome: A Perspective on Policy Integration and Governance Innovation

In the food policy arena, the topic of governance and how to create a governance system that would deal with cross-cutting issues, including new ways of perceiving the public sphere, the policymaking, and the involvement of the population, has become an important field of study. The research presented in this article focuses on the case study of Rome, comparing different paths that various groups of actors have taken toward the definition of urban food policy processes: the Agrifood Plan, Food Policy for Rome, and Community Gardens Movement. The aim of the research is to understand the state of the art about different paths toward food strategies and policies that are currently active in the Roman territory while investigating the relationship between policy integration and governance innovation structures. Indeed, this paper dives into the governance structure of the three food policy processes, the actors and sectors involved, and the goals and instruments selected to achieve a more sustainable food system for the city. In this context, their characteristics are analyzed according to an innovative conceptual framework, which, by crossing two recognized theoretical systems, on policy integration and governance innovation frameworks, allows to identify the capacity of policy integration and governance innovation. The analysis shows that every process performs a different form of governance, implemented according to the actor and backgrounds that compose the process itself. The study demonstrates that governance innovation and policy integration are strongly linked and that the conception and application of policy integration changes according to the governance vision that a process has

Can ultraviolet radiation act as a survival enhancer for cutaneous melanoma?

Some studies have suggested that sun exposure plays a protective role in melanoma survival. This created a paradox as the known carcinogen can act as a cancer promoter and also as a survival enhancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sun exposure on melanoma mortality using both ambient sun exposure and individual data. A 10-year cohort study was carried out on primary cutaneous melanoma cases (n=972). Residential data were coupled with levels of ultraviolet radiation (UV) to provide a measure of individual exposure. Demographic, histological and clinical data were obtained for all participants. In a subsample, information on pigmentary characteristics, diet, medical history, phenotype and self-reported sun exposure was also collected. Survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine associations. No protective effect was found for UVB or individual sun exposure variables on melanoma mortality. However, an increased risk of mortality was found among patients with cutaneous melanoma located on the lower limbs and in the highest decile of UVB exposure (≥3.298 J/cm) after controlling for sex, age and Breslow thickness (relative risk: 4.78; 95% confidence interval: 1.30-17.5). The increased risk of mortality for the highest decile of UVB was also confirmed in the subsample after controlling for sex, age, education, use of sun lamps, pigmentary characteristics and diet. The results of the study suggested no protective effect of sun exposure for melanoma mortality and showed that high sun exposure increases the risk of melanoma mortality among patients with melanomas located on the lower limbs

Chromosome 15q BP3 to BP5 deletion is a likely locus for speech delay and language impairment: Report on a four-member family and an unrelated boy

Background: Deletions in chromosome 15q13 have been reported both in healthy people and individuals with a wide range of behavioral and neuropsychiatric disturbances. Six main breakpoint (BP) subregions (BP1-BP6) are mapped to the 15q13 region and three further embedded BP regions (BP3-BP5). The deletion at BP4-BP5 is the rearrangement most frequently observed compared to other known deletions in BP3-BP5 and BP3-BP4 regions. Deletions of each of these three regions have previously been implicated in a variable range of clinical phenotypes, including minor dysmorphism, developmental delay/intellectual disability, epilepsy, autism spectrum disorders, behavioral disturbances, and speech disorders. Of note, no overt clinical difference among each group of BP region deletions has been recorded so far. Methods: We report on a four-member family plus an additional unrelated boy affected by a BP3-BP5 deletion that presented with typical clinical signs including speech delay and language impairment. A review of the clinical features associated with the three main groups of BP regions (BP4-BP5, BP3-BP5, and BP3-BP4) deletions is reported. Results: Array-CGH analysis revealed in the mother (case 1) and in her three children (cases 2, 3, and 4), as well as in the unrelated boy (case 5), the following rearrangement: arr (hg19) 15q13.1-q13.3 (29.213.402-32.510.863) x1. Conclusion: This report, along with other recent observations, suggests the hypothesis that the BP region comprised between BP3 and BP5 in chromosome 15q13 is involved in several brain human dysfunctions, including impairment of the language development and, its deletion, may be directly or indirectly responsible for the speech delay and language deficit in the affected individuals

Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as an early predictor of prolonged intensive care unit stay after cardiac surgery.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is a protein of lipocalin family highly expressed in various pathologic states and is an early biomarker of acute kidney injury in cardiac surgery. We performed an observational study to evaluate the role of NGAL in predicting postoperative intensive care stay in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery. We enrolled 27 consecutive patients who underwent high-risk cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. Urinary NGAL (uNGAL) was measured before surgery, at intensive care unit (ICU) arrival and 24 h later. Univariate and multivariate predictors of ICU stay were performed. uNGAL was 18.0 (8.7–28.1) ng/mL at baseline, 10.7 (4.35–36.0) ng/mL at ICU arrival and 29.6 (9.65–29.5) 24 h later. The predictors of prolonged ICU stay at the multivariate analysis were body mass index (BMI), uNGAL 24 h after surgery, and aortic cross-clamp time. The predictors of high uNGAL levels 24 h after at a multivariate analysis were preoperative uNGAL and logistic European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation. At a multivariate analysis the only independent predictors of prolonged ICU stay were BMI, uNGAL 24 h after surgery and aortic cross-clamp time