Analysis of size and shape differences between ancient and present-day Italian crania using metrics and geometric morphometrics based on multislice computed tomography

The Museum of Human Anatomy in Naples houses a collection of ancient Graeco-Roman crania. The aim of this study was to use multislice computed tomography (MSCT) to evaluate and objectively quantify potential differences in cranial dimensions and shapes between ancient Graeco-Roman crania (n = 36) and modern-day southern Italian crania (n = 35) and then to characterize the cranial changes occurring over more than 2000 years, known as secular change. The authors used traditional metric criteria and morphometric geometry to compare shape differences between the sets of crania. Statistically significant differences in size between the ancient and modern crania included shorter facial length, narrower external palate, smaller minimum cranial breadth, shorter right and left mastoid processes, and wider maximum occipital and nasal breadth. The shape changes from the ancient to modern crania included a global coronal enlargement of the face and cranial diameters, with more anterior projection of the face at the anterior nasal spine, but also posterior projection at the glabella and the nasion. It is not possible to determine whether these differences result exclusively from secular changes in the cranium or from other factors, including a mix of secular change and other unknown factors. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first MSCT-based study to compare ancient Graeco-Roman and modern-day southern Italian crania and to characterize shape and size differences

Exposure to submicron particles (PM1.0) from diesel exhaust and pollen allergens of human lung epithelial cells induces morphological changes of mitochondria tonifilaments and rough endoplasmic reticulum

In recent literature, little has been said regarding the morphological changes that occur in lung cells after treatment with particles and nanoparticles. Using an in vitro model of type-II lung epithelium (A549), we studied the effects of submicron particles (PM1.0), Parietaria officinalis (ALL), and PM1.0+ ALL together. To date several biochemical effects have been described, instead few data exist in literature regarding morphological events following these treatments, in particular we focused on the morphological changes and distribution of mitochondria, tonifilaments and rough endoplasmic reticulum, using a transmission electron microscopic (TEM) approach. After exposure to PM1.0particles (PM1.0), Parietaria officinalis as allergen, and PM1.0with P. officinalis, changes in the cytoplasmic area were observed, such as damage to mitochondria and morphological alterations of the tonifilaments and rough endoplasmic reticulum. The data obtained strongly support the hypothesis that cells in contact with submicron particles (PM1.0), or P. officinalis, undergo alteration of their metabolism

Studies on the Essential Intramolecular Interaction Between the A1 and A2 Domains of von Willebrand Factor

Haemostasis depends on the balanced participation of von Willebrand factor (vWF), a large multimeric and multidomain glycoprotein with essential role during the initial steps of blood clotting. Mature vWF circulates in plasma with the form of multimers comprised of several domains with diverse functions. More specifically, the A1 domain of vWF plays crucial role in haemostasis, regulating the mechanism of platelet adhesion in sites of vascular injury while A2 domain regulates the normal turnover of vWF. Recent studies have implied that an intramolecular interaction between A1 and A2 domains exists, which prevents platelets adhesion and subsequently inhibits the initial step of the blood coagulation mechanism. In an effort to elucidate the essential nature of the interaction between these two domains, we produced and purified the corresponding recombinant unmodified polypeptides. The secondary structure of the two domains was studied individually and as a mixture using circular dichroism spectroscopy. The observed interaction was verified by ELISA competition assays using antibodies and their ability to form productive interactions was further characterized kinetically. In silico analysis (docking and molecular dynamics simulations) of the A1-A2 binding indicated three possible structural models highlighting the crucial, for this interaction, region

Exposure to Submicron Particles (PM1.0) from Diesel Exhaust and Pollen Allergens of Human Lung Epithelial Cells Induces Morphological Changes of Mitochondria Tonifilaments and Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

In recent literature, little has been said regarding the morphological changes that occur in lung cells after treatment with particles and nanoparticles. Using an in vitro model of type-II lung epithelium (A549), we studied the effects of submicron particles (PM1.0), Parietaria officinalis (ALL), and PM1.0 + ALL together. To date several biochemical effects have been described, instead few data exist in literature regarding morphological events following these treatments, in particular we focused on the morphological changes and distribution of mitochondria, tonifilaments and rough endoplasmic reticulum, using a transmission electron microscopic (TEM) approach. After exposure to PM1.0 particles (PM1.0), Parietaria officinalis as allergen, and PM1.0 with P. officinalis, changes in the cytoplasmic area were observed, such as damage to mitochondria and morphological alterations of the tonifilaments and rough endoplasmic reticulum. The data obtained strongly support the hypothesis that cells in contact with submicron particles (PM1.0), or P. officinalis, undergo alteration of their metabolism

From Nucleobases to Nucleolipids: An ITC Approach on the Thermodynamics of Their Interactions in Aqueous Solutions

International audienceHybrid constructions based on nucleosides and lipophilic components, known as nucleolipids, have become an extremely interesting class of molecules, especially for their potential biomedical applications. In this matter, it seemed important to define the nature and estimate the strength of their interaction with polynucleotides by different ways. We report in this work a systematic investigation through isothermal titration calorimetry of the thermodynamics of the association and dissociation of adenine and thymine derivatives, not previously performed...