Oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of systemic scleroderma: An overview

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare disorder of the connective tissue characterized by fibrosis of the skin, skeletal muscles and visceral organs. Additional manifestations include activation of the immune system and vascular injury. SSc causes disability and death as the result of end-stage organ failure. Two clinical subsets of the SSc are accepted: limited cutaneous SSc (lc-SSc) and diffuse cutaneous SSc (dc-SSc). At present, the aetiology and pathogenesis of SSc remain obscure, and consequently, disease outcome is unpredictable. Numerous studies suggest that reactive oxidizing species (ROS) play an important role in the pathogenesis of scleroderma. Over the years, several reports have supported this hypothesis for both lc-SSc and dc-SSc, although the specific role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of vascular injury and fibrosis remains to be clarified. The aim of the present review was to report and comment the recent findings regarding the involvement and role of oxidative stress in SSc pathogenesis. Biomarkers proving the link between ROS and the main pathological features of SSc have been summarized

Possible Implication of Red Blood Cells in the Prothrombotic Risk in Early Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that can be considered as a prothrombotic state1. A great number of studies have investigated the possible role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease. The presence of large amounts of superoxide radicals and hydrogen peroxide produced by activated neutrophils has been reported in the synovial fluid of patients with RA. This may cause lipid peroxidation that yields a wide variety of end products, including malondialdehyde (MDA), a known marker of oxidative stress. These products are therefore transported from the synovial fluid to the blood circulation system2. Considering that elevated levels of MDA have been observed in the blood plasma of patients with RA2, the aim of this pilot study was to investigate whether the elevated levels of plasmatic MDA could be associated with a modification of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of blood plasma that is usually indicative of a “systemic” oxidative imbalance3. In addition, in view of their activity as redox effectors or scavengers4, as well as determinants of thrombus formation5, we evaluated red blood cell (RBC) features in terms of their redox state and lifespan marker molecules

Gender-Associated Biomarkers in Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors for atherosclerosis, including abdominal obesity, hypertension, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia with high triglycerides, and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Affected patients have a significantly increased risk of developing cardiovascular disorders (CVD), that are the leading cause of death in the Western countries. Several epidemiological studies have investigated the evolution of CVD hypothesizing the presence of a gender difference in the pathogenetic and progression determinants detectable in men and women. In this chapter, we will examine new gender-associated bioindicators of possible diagnostic or prognostic value in the MetS. Moreover, we will provide an overview on current knowledge on sex-associated cardiovascular determinants with the aim to improve CVD diagnostic and prognostic clinical courses and to develop new and gender-biased prevention strategies

Regina José Galindo. Guatemala, violencias desbordadas

The work aims to analyze some of the performative works included in the bodista proposal of the Guatemalan artist Regina José Galindo. Starting from the expression "violencias desbordadas", used by Casaús Arzú, an attempt will be made to embed performative actions in the detailed forms of respectively gender, symbolic and systemic violence, to understand how the logic of violence permeates the Guatemalan context and produces subordinate subjectivity.Il lavoro si propone di analizzare alcune delle opere performative comprese nella proposta bodista dell’artista guatemalteca Regina José Galindo. A partire dell’espressione “violencias desbordadas”, usata da Casaús Arzú, che riprende il concetto espresso precedentemente da Julián López García, Santiago Bastos y Manuela Camus, si tenterà di incasellare le azioni performative nelle forme particolareggiate di violenza rispettivamente di genere, simbolica e sistemica, al fine di comprendere come la logica della violenza permea il contesto guatemalteco e produce soggettività subalterne

Documento de alineación de la Matriz de Factores Institucionales (MAFI) con las estrategias de intervención del Banco

Este documento de debate tiene como objetivo explorar posibles sinergias entre la Matriz de factores institucionales (MAFI) y distintos instrumentos asociados al nuevo ciclo de proyecto del Banco. Específicamente, el documento examina la posible contribución de la MAFI, en tanto sistema de información, a los requerimientos de análisis institucional definidos en el marco y la matriz de efectividad del desarrollo (DEM), el marco y la matriz de gestión de riesgos de los proyectos (GRP) y el documento para el seguimiento de los resultados de los proyectos de préstamo (LRR). Adicionalmente, presenta una estrategia de colaboración con KNL para dar apoyo y ofrecer alternativas de acción dentro de las capacidades existentes del Banco.Ciclos operativos y de producción, Desarrollo empresarial, MAFI, documento alineacion

On the interference of sildenafil on platelet aggregation: An ex vivo pilot study

n/

Herpes Simplex Virus Infection in Pregnancy

Infection with herpes simplex is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections. Because the infection is common in women of reproductive age it can be contracted and transmitted to the fetus during pregnancy and the newborn. Herpes simplex virus is an important cause of neonatal infection, which can lead to death or long-term disabilities. Rarely in the uterus, it occurs frequently during the transmission delivery. The greatest risk of transmission to the fetus and the newborn occurs in case of an initial maternal infection contracted in the second half of pregnancy. The risk of transmission of maternal-fetal-neonatal herpes simplex can be decreased by performing a treatment with antiviral drugs or resorting to a caesarean section in some specific cases. The purpose of this paper is to provide recommendations on management of herpes simplex infections in pregnancy and strategies to prevent transmission from mother to fetus

Inhibition of Neuromuscular Contractions of Human and Rat Colon by Bergamot Essential Oil and Linalool: Evidence to Support a Therapeutic Action

Bergamot essential oil (BEO) added to food and drink promotes a citrus flavour. Folklore suggests benefits on gastrointestinal functions but with little supporting evidence. BEO and major constituents (linalool, limonene, linalyl acetate) were therefore examined for any ability to influence neuromuscular contractions of human and rat colon. Circular muscle strips (macroscopically-normal human colon obtained following ethical approval at cancer surgery; Sprague–Dawley rats) were suspended in baths (Krebs solution; 37 °C; 5% CO2 in O2) for measurement of neuronally-mediated contractions (prevented by tetrodotoxin or atropine) evoked by electrical field stimulation (5 Hz, 0.5 ms pulse width, 10s/minute, maximally-effective voltage), or contractions evoked by KCl (submaximally-effective concentrations). BEO and each constituent concentration dependently inhibited neuronally-mediated and KCl-induced contractions. In human: apparent pIC50 for BEO (volume/volume Krebs), respectively, 3.8 ± 0.3 and 4.4 ± 0.3; Imax 55.8% ± 4.2% and 37.5% ± 4.2%. For the constituents, the rank order of potency differed in human (linalool > limonene >> linalyl-acetate) and rat colon (linalyl-acetate > limonene = linalool), but rank order of efficacy was similar (linalool >> (BEO) = linalyl-acetate >> limonene). Thus, linalool had high efficacy but greater potency in human colon (Imax 76.8% ± 6.9%; pIC50 6.7 ± 0.2; n = 4) compared with rat colon (Imax 75.3% ± 1.9%; pIC50 5.8 ± 0.1; n = 4). The ability of BEO and linalool to inhibit human colon neuromuscular contractility provides a mechanism for use as complementary treatments of intestinal disorders

Single exposure of human fibroblasts (WI-38) to a sub-cytotoxic dose of UVB induces premature senescence

AbstractIn this work, we present a new model of stress-induced premature senescence obtained by exposing human fibroblasts (WI-38) at early passages (passages 2–4) to a single sub-cytotoxic dose of UVB (200mJ/cm2). We show that this treatment leads to the appearance of several biomarkers of senescence such as enlarged and flattened cell morphology, the presence of nuclear heterochromatic foci and β-galactosidase activity. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a mild ROS production and p53 activation are upstream events required for the induction of premature senescence. Our method represents an alternative in vitro model in photoaging research and could be used to test potential anti-photoaging compounds