The maritime policy by Bernardo Tanucci in the Epistolary with Charles III King of Spain

Ministro de confianza de Carlos de Borbón, después de haber ocupado cargos de prestigio hasta 1758, cuando Carlos partió para España, Tanucci fue elegido por el rey como miembro autorizado del Consejo de regencia hasta 1767, cuando Fernando IV alcanzó la mayoría de edad. En esos largos años escribió semanalmente al rey de España para informarle sobre las cuestiones del reino napolitano. El vinculo con España había conducido en parte al sacrificio del desarrollo comercial napolitano, aunque se había inciado un plan de reorganización de la marina, una cuestión debatida en la correspondencia de Tanucci. Pero en 1775, cuando la reina María Carolina se unió al Consejo de Estado (despues del nacimiento de su primier hijo, según las cláusulas de las capitulaciones matrimoniales) la política filohispánica de Tanucci ya no se toleraba. Por lo tanto, al año siguiente la reina lo invitó a retirarse a la vida privada, aunque él continuó intercambiando cartas con el rey Carlos III hasta su muerte.Trusted advisor of Charles of Bourbon, after having held prestigious positions until 1758, when Charles left for Spain, Tanucci was chosen by the king as an authoritative member of the Council of Regency until 1767, when the king Ferdinand reached the age of majority. In those long years he wrote weekly to the king in Spain to brief him on the questions of southern kingdom. The political relations with Spain had a dramatic impact on Napolitan comercial development, but there were plans for the reorganization of the Royal Navy, a question debated in Tanucci’s correspondence. However, in 1775, when Queen Maria Carolina joined the Council of State (after the birth of her first son, according to the clauses of the marriage chapters), Tanucci’s pro-Spanish foreing policy was no longer tolerated. Therefore, the following year was invited by the queen to retire to private life, although he continued to exchange letters with the king Charles III until his death

Quality of life of Arabic-speaking refugees in Greece. The case of Skaramagas camp

Εισαγωγή: Η παγκόσμια προσφυγική κρίση επηρέασε ιδιαίτερα τους Αραβόφωνους πληθυσμούς στη Μέση Ανατολή. Ως αποτέλεσμα αποκλείστηκαν δεκάδες χιλιάδες άνθρωποι στην Ελλάδα περιμένοντας για εγκρίσεις ασύλου, αποφάσεις μετεγκατάστασης ή επαναπατρισμού. Οι συνθήκες που επικρατούν στο ταξίδι και στους προσφυγικούς καταυλισμούς αποτελούν παράγοντες κινδύνου για τη σωματική και ψυχική υγεία. Πληθώρα ερευνών στον τομέα της δημόσιας υγείας χρησιμοποιεί αυτοαναφερόμενους δείκτες Ποιότητας Ζωής, για την εκτίμηση της επίδρασης των κοινωνικών προσδιοριστών στην υγεία. Σκοπός αυτής της μελέτης είναι η εκτίμηση της Ποιότητας Ζωής των αραβόφωνων προσφύγων που διαμένουν στην Ελλάδα. Μέθοδοι: Η έρευνα αυτή επικεντρώνεται σε έναν απ’ τους μεγαλύτερους προσφυγικούς καταυλισμούς της Αττικής, το κέντρο φιλοξενίας Σκαραμαγκά, στο οποίο διαμένουν περίπου 2500 πρόσφυγες. Τα δεδομένα συλλέχθηκαν με το ερωτηματολόγιο Ποιότητας Ζωής του WHO (WHOQOL-Bref) και συγκρίνονται με υπάρχουσες αναφορές των αποτελεσμάτων WHOQOL-Bref άλλων πληθυσμών προσφύγων, προκειμένου να δοθεί ένα πλαίσιο ερμηνείας και σχολιασμού στα ευρήματά μας. Αποτελέσματα: Βρέθηκε ότι η μέση βαθμολογία στους τέσσερις τομείς WHOQOL – φυσική υγεία, ψυχολογική, κοινωνικό, περιβάλλον - είναι χαμηλή και μεταξύ των χαμηλότερων στον κόσμο. Συγκεκριμένα, οι πρόσφυγες από τον Σκαραμαγκά έχουν χαμηλότερα σκορ σε όλους τους τομείς σε σχέση με ένα δείγμα προσφύγων από το Κουρδιστάν και σε σχέση με ένα δείγμα γενικού πληθυσμού από 23 χώρες. Σε σύγκριση με τους πρόσφυγες από τη Δυτική Αφρική, σημειώνουν υψηλότερη βαθμολογία στον τομέα της φυσικής υγείας και στον κοινωνικό τομέα, αλλά χαμηλότερα στον ψυχολογικό τομέα. Δεν βρέθηκαν στατιστικά σημαντικές διαφορές στον τομέα του περιβάλλοντος. Συμπεράσματα: Αυτά τα ευρήματα μπορούν να βοηθήσουν στην περίπτωση χάραξης πολιτικής, αν και απαιτούνται περισσότερες έρευνες και σε άλλους προσφυγικούς καταυλισμούς στην Ελλάδα, προκειμένου να υπάρξει μια πιο ολοκληρωμένη εικόνα. Οι προσπάθειες βελτίωσης των διαφόρων τομέων που καθορίζουν την ποιότητα ζωής πρέπει να λαμβάνονται υπόψη κατά το σχεδιασμό πολιτικών ένταξης.Introduction: The global refugee crisis has affected disproportionately people in the Middle East. Eventually this situation has left stranded tens of thousands of people in Greece awaiting for asylum approvals, relocation or repatriation decisions. Conditions prevalent at the journey and at refugee camps are degenerating physical and mental health. A plethora of research in public health is using self-reported Quality of Life indicators to assess the impact of social determinants on health (SDOH). The aim of this study is to assess the quality of life of Arabic-speaking refugees residing in Greece Methods: This project is focusing on one of the largest camps, namely Skaramagas camp, hosting approximately 2500 refugees. Data are collected with WHO’s Quality of Life (WHOQOL-Bref) questionnaire and compared to existing reports of WHOQOL-Bref scores of other refugee populations, in order to provide context to our findings. Results: We found that average score on the WHOQOL four domains –physical, psychological, social, environment- is low and among the lowest in the world. Specifically refugees from Skaramagas score lower on all domains than a refugee from Kurdistan and the general population norms from 23 countries. Compared with refugees from West Africa, they score higher on physical and social domains but lower on the psychological domain. No statistical differences were found on the environmental domain. Conclusion: These findings can be helpful in case of policy making, although more research is required in other camp settings in Greece, in order to provide a more comprehensive overview. Efforts of improvement of different facets-domains that determine Quality of Life, should be taken in consideration when drawing integration policies

Skeletal Muscle Mitochondrial and Perilipin Content in a Cohort of Obese Subjects Undergoing Moderate and High Intensity Training

Obesity is a complex condition characterized by abnormal and excessive fat accumulation, resulting in an increased risk for severe health problems. Skeletal muscles play a major role in movement and fat catabolism, but the insulin resistance that comes with obesity makes it difficult to fulfill these tasks. In this study, we analyse two types of training protocols, moderate intensity continuous training (MICT) versus high intensity interval training (HIIT), in a cohort of obese subjects to establish which muscle adaptations favour fat consumption in response to exercise. Mitochondria play a role in fat oxidation. We found protein upregulation of mitochondrial biomarkers, TOMM20 and Cox-4, in HIIT but not in MICT, without detecting any shifts in fibre composition phenotype of the vastus lateralis in both training groups. Interestingly, both MICT and HIIT protocols showed increased protein levels of perilipin PLIN2, which is involved in the delivery and consumption of fats. HIIT also augmented perilipin PLIN5. Perilipins are involved in fat storage in skeletal muscles and their upregulation, along with the analysis of circulatory lipid profiles reported in the present study, suggest important adaptations induced by the two types of training protocols that favour fat consumption and weight loss in obese subjects

Upregulation of Sarcolemmal Hemichannels and Inflammatory Transcripts with Neuromuscular Junction Instability during Lower Limb Unloading in Humans

Human skeletal muscle atrophy and a disproportionate force loss occur within a few days of unloading in space and on Earth, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Dis- ruption of neuromuscular junction homeostasis has been proposed as one of the possible causes. Here, we investigated the potential mechanisms involved in this neuromuscular disruption induced by a 10-day unilateral lower limb suspension (ULLS) in humans. Specifically, we investigated hem- ichannels’ upregulation, neuromuscular junction and axonal damage, neurotrophins’ receptor downregulation and inflammatory transcriptional signatures. Biomarkers were evaluated at local and systemic levels. At the sarcolemmal level, changes were found to be associated with an in- creased expression of connexin 43 and pannexin-1. Upregulation of the inflammatory transcripts revealed by deep transcriptomics was found after 10 days of ULLS. The destabilisation of the neu- romuscular junction was not accompanied by changes in the secretion of the brain-derived neu- rotrophic factor and neurotrophin-4, while their receptor, BDNF/NT growth factors receptor (TrkB), decreased. Furthermore, at 5 days of ULLS, there was already a significant upregulation of the se- rum neurofilament light chain concentration, an established clinical biomarker of axonal injury. At 10 days of ULLS, other biomarkers of early denervation processes appeared. Hence, short periods of muscle unloading induce sarcolemmal hemichannels upregulation, inflammatory transcripts up- regulation, neuromuscular junction instability and axonal damage

Cristianos nuevos de origen ibérico en el Reino de Nápoles en el siglo XVII

In 1541, in the Kingdom of Naples, the Jews were expelled or converted to Christianity resulting in an important community of New Christians that flourished and remained until the mid-17th. During a process of social assimilation and consequently dissolution, a significant number of the members of the community was subject to the Roman Inquisition. The faith trials reveal how complex the community composition was, linked mainly to two outstanding families: the Vaaz, of Portuguese origin, and the Vargas, natives of the Kingdom of Aragon. These families had acquired feudal properties, nobility titles and preeminent positions in magistracy, attributes which placed them among those who held effective power. But the community included more humble families and individuals as well. Internal conflicts led to a break in solidarity and inquisitors took advantage of lack of protection by judging and imposing severe sentences reserved for the Crypto-Jews.En el Reino de Nápoles, de donde fueron expulsados los judíos en 1541, se desarrolló una importante comunidad de cristianos nuevos que pervivió hasta mediados del siglo XVII. Entonces, cuando la comunidad se hallaba en vías de asimilación social, y por tanto de disolución, la Inquisición romana procedió contra muchos de sus miembros. Los procesos de fe desvelan la compleja composición de la comunidad, aglutinada en torno a dos grandes redes de parentesco: la de los Vaaz, de origen portugués, y la de los Vargas, originarios de la Corona de Aragón. Estas familias habían logrado posesiones feudales, títulos de nobleza y puestos preeminentes en la magistratura, atributos que los situaban entre los poderosos: pero la comunidad incluía también a familias e individuos más humildes. Sus contradicciones internas provocaron la ruptura de la solidaridad y esa falta de protección fue aprovechada por los inquisidores para juzgarlos e imponerles las penas reservadas para los herejes judaizantes

FAMIN is a multifunctional purine enzyme enabling the purine nucleotide cycle

Mutations in FAMIN cause arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease in early childhood, and a common genetic variant increases risk for Crohn’s disease and leprosy. We developed an unbiased liquid chromatography mass spectrometry screen for enzymatic activity of this orphan protein. We report that FAMIN phosphorolytically cleaves adenosine into adenine and ribose-1-phosphate. Such activity was considered absent from eukaryotic metabolism. FAMIN and its prokaryotic paralogues additionally have adenosine deaminase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase, and S-methyl-5'-thioadenosine phosphorylase activity, hence combine activities of the namesake enzymes of central purine metabolism. FAMIN enables in macrophages a purine nucleotide cycle (PNC) between adenosine and inosine monophosphate and adenylosuccinate, which consumes aspartate and releases fumarate in a manner involving fatty acid oxidation and ATP-citrate lyase activity. This macrophage PNC synchronises mitochondrial activity with glycolysis by balancing electron transfer to mitochondria, thereby supporting glycolytic activity and promoting oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial H+ and phosphate recycling.Includes ERC. Wellcome Trust and MRC

FAMIN is a multifunctional purine enzyme enabling the purine nucleotide cycle

Mutations in FAMIN cause arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease in early childhood, and a common genetic variant increases risk for Crohn’s disease and leprosy. We developed an unbiased liquid chromatography mass spectrometry screen for enzymatic activity of this orphan protein. We report that FAMIN phosphorolytically cleaves adenosine into adenine and ribose-1-phosphate. Such activity was considered absent from eukaryotic metabolism. FAMIN and its prokaryotic paralogues additionally have adenosine deaminase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase, and S-methyl-5'-thioadenosine phosphorylase activity, hence combine activities of the namesake enzymes of central purine metabolism. FAMIN enables in macrophages a purine nucleotide cycle (PNC) between adenosine and inosine monophosphate and adenylosuccinate, which consumes aspartate and releases fumarate in a manner involving fatty acid oxidation and ATP-citrate lyase activity. This macrophage PNC synchronises mitochondrial activity with glycolysis by balancing electron transfer to mitochondria, thereby supporting glycolytic activity and promoting oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial H+ and phosphate recycling.Includes ERC. Wellcome Trust and MRC

Effects of short-term unloading and active recovery on human motor unit properties, neuromuscular junction transmission and transcriptomic profile

Electrophysiological alterations of the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and motor unit potential (MUP) with unloading are poorly studied. We aimed to investigate these aspects and the underlying molecular mechanisms with short-term unloading and active recovery (AR). Eleven healthy males underwent a 10-day unilateral lower limb suspension (ULLS) period, followed by 21-day AR based on resistance exercise. Quadriceps femoris (QF) cross-sectional area (CSA) and isometric maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) were evaluated. Intramuscular electromyographic recordings were obtained during 10% and 25% MVC isometric contractions from the vastus lateralis (VL). Biomarkers of NMJ molecular instability (serum c-terminal agrin fragment, CAF), axonal damage (neurofilament light chain) and denervation status were assessed from blood samples and VL biopsies. NMJ and ion channel transcriptomic profiles were investigated by RNA-sequencing. QF CSA and MVC decreased with ULLS. Increased CAF and altered NMJ transcriptome with unloading suggested the emergence of NMJ molecular instability, which was not associated with impaired NMJ transmission stability. Instead, increased MUP complexity and decreased motor unit firing rates were found after ULLS. Downregulation of ion channel gene expression was found together with increased neurofilament light chain concentration and partial denervation. The AR period restored most of these neuromuscular alterations. In conclusion, the human NMJ is destabilized at the molecular level but shows functional resilience to a 10-day unloading period at least at relatively low contraction intensities. However, MUP properties are altered by ULLS, possibly due to alterations in ion channel dynamics and initial axonal damage and denervation. These changes are fully reversed by 21 days of AR. (Figure presented.). Key points: We used integrative electrophysiological and molecular approaches to comprehensively investigate changes in neuromuscular integrity and function after a 10-day unilateral lower limb suspension (ULLS), followed by 21 days of active recovery in young healthy men, with a particular focus on neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and motor unit potential (MUP) properties alterations. After 10-day ULLS, we found significant NMJ molecular alterations in the absence of NMJ transmission stability impairment. These findings suggest that the human NMJ is functionally resilient against insults and stresses induced by short-term disuse at least at relatively low contraction intensities, at which low-threshold, slow-type motor units are recruited. Intramuscular electromyography analysis revealed that unloading caused increased MUP complexity and decreased motor unit firing rates, and these alterations could be related to the observed changes in skeletal muscle ion channel pool and initial and partial signs of fibre denervation and axonal damage. The active recovery period restored these neuromuscular changes

Plinio Il Giovane et l'Italia agraria del suo tempo

(Docteur en Philologie classique) -- Université catholique de Louvain, 195