Do We Care about Built Cultural Heritage? The Empirical Evidence Based on the Veneto House Market

Italian historical buildings require urgent and costly maintenance and restoration works, but neither the local, nor the national public administrators can afford these expenditures. Nevertheless the built cultural heritage represent a unique resource of the territory, as it embodies the local social, historical, and cultural values, generates positive externalities (Musgrave, 1959), and stimulates economic activities mainly related to tourism. Is it possible to quantify how much we care about historical buildings and to measure this value in monetary terms? The aim of this paper is to answer to this question via the hedonimetric approach. Specifically, we try to verify if the proximity to historical villas, districts, palaces, squares, fortresses, religious buildings and archeological site systematically influence the house market equilibrium price in the Veneto region (Italy). The paper is organized as follows: in section two a brief review of the literature is reported, in section three the database used for the hedonimetric estimates is described, in section four the econometric models and the results we had obtained are illustrated, and in section five some final comments are drawn.Cultural Heritage Externalities, Hedonic Housing Price Method

Efeito dual da suplementação da dieta com óleo de peixe na inflamação pulmonar de ratos asmáticos

Resumo: A suplementação da dieta com óleo de peixe aumenta a disponibilidade de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados n-3 nas membranas celulares, os quais podem sofrer peroxidação lipídica no ambiente oxidante característico da asma. A cascata de reações oxidativas culmina em produção aumentada de componentes associados ao estresse oxidativo e de um importante mediador lipídico pró-inflamatório, o lipídio fator de agregação plaquetária (PAF)-like. Na presente investigação, nós avaliamos o efeito da suplementação com óleo de peixe de animais asmáticos sobre a bioatividade de PAF e sobre parâmetros relacionados ao estresse oxidativo: produção de nitritos e hidroperóxido lipídico, atividade das enzimas antioxidantes superóxido dismutase, catalase e glutationa peroxidase. A suplementação dos animais asmáticos com óleo de peixe reduziu a produção de nitritos (1,719 ± 0,137 nmol/mL vs. 2,454 ± 0,163 nmol/mL), de hidroperóxidos lipídicos (72,190 ± 7,327 nmol/mg de proteína vs. 120,200 ± 11,270 nmol/mg de proteína) e a infiltração de leucócitos (2,040 ± 0,200 x 106 vs. 3,330 ± 0,430 x 106). Com o suplemento, os ratos asmáticos apresentaram um aumento na atividade da superóxido dismutase (33,910 ± 2,325 U/mg de proteína vs. 24,110 ± 0,618 U/mg proteína) e da glutationa peroxidase (164,100 ± 31,250 U/mg de proteína vs. 12,590 ± 5,234 U/mg de proteína). O óleo de peixe também promoveu, em animais asmáticos, o aumento da eosinofilia (6,400 ± 0,830 x 105/mL vs. 3,370 ± 0,640 x 105/mL) e do extravasamento de proteínas (153,400 ± 12,780 ?g/mL vs. 91,620 ± 6,270 ?g/mL). No entanto, o óleo de peixe não afetou a bioatividade de PAF no tecido pulmonar de ratos asmáticos (0,545 ± 0,098 razão 340/380 nm vs. 0,669 ± 0,101 razão 340/380 nm). Uma vez que o óleo de peixe modificou as reações iniciais da sequência oxidativa para a geração de PAF, mas não afetou a sua bioatividade, podemos concluir que a suplementação da dieta de ratos asmáticos com óleo de peixe tem efeito dual, tanto em parâmetros relacionados ao balanço oxidativo quanto na inflamação. O óleo de peixe reduz o estresse oxidativo e a infiltração de leucócitos, mas não apresenta efeito sobre a bioatividade de PAF; aumenta o extravasamento de proteínas e aumenta a eosinofilia no LBA de animais asmáticos

Small-angle neutron scattering and Molecular Dynamics structural study of gelling DNA nanostars

DNA oligomers with properly designed sequences self-assemble into well defined constructs. Here, we exploit this methodology to produce bulk quantities of tetravalent DNA nanostars (each one composed by 196 nucleotides) and to explore the structural signatures of their aggregation process. We report small-angle neutron scattering experiments focused on the evaluation of both the form factor and the temperature evolution of the scattered intensity at a nano star concentration where the system forms a tetravalent equilibrium gel. We also perform molecular dynamics simulations of one isolated tetramer to evaluate the form factor theoretically, without resorting to any approximate shape. The numerical form factor is found to be in very good agreement with the experimental one. Simulations predict an essentially temperature independent form factor, offering the possibility to extract the effective structure factor and its evolution during the equilibrium gelation.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figure

Perception Of Toothache In Adults From State Capitals And Interior Cities Within The Brazilian Geographic Regions.

Studies emphasizing toothache in adulthood are scarce in Brazil. A greater understanding of both the prevalence and the self-perception of pain among individuals in this age group (35 to 44 years old) is important, especially considering that this is an economically active population. To describe reports of oral pain and oral pain-related aspects in from Brazilian state capitals and interior cities. The sample comprised 9779 adults residing in the state capitals and interior cities from each Brazilian region in the SB Brazil 2010 report, regarding reports of oral pain and their intensity in the last 6 months. The descriptive analysis comparing pain reports between and within the regions and regression analysis of pain related to socioeconomic aspects per region were performed considering α=0.05 difference. The highest prevalence of pain was found in the Southeast region (p<0.01), and there was also difference between the state capitals and interior cities in the South (p<0.01), where the prevalence was higher in the capitals, and in the Southeast, where the higher prevalence was in the interior cities (p=0.03). The Northern region had lower pain intensity than the Southeast and Midwest. Comparing pain intensity, only the Northeast region showed statistical difference between state capitals and the interior cities for pain intensity, where the interior cities had higher pain intensity than the three state capitals. Regarding dental office visitations, the Southeast capitals have the highest prevalence (100%) compared to the North and South. The toothache impact on daily activities was as follows: eating difficulty (29.8% to 72.7%), uncomfortable teeth brushing (over 50%), and sleep disturbance (above 13%). Between the Brazilian regions the socioeconomic aspects differ in relation to the pain; the exception being the association between pain, dental care and income, which occurred in the 5 regions. Users of public dental care services were more likely to present pain, comparing to private dental services, OR ranging from 1.72 in the Northeast to 2.85 in the Southeast. The prevalence of pain was higher among Brazilian adults, impacting some of the daily activities. The data also showed many differences in the prevalence and intensity of pain among both the Brazilian regions and the cities within the same region.133

Malignant and tuberculous pleural effusions: immunophenotypic cellular characterization

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Tuberculosis and cancer are the main causes of pleural effusion. Pleural involvement is associated with migration of immune cells to the pleural cavity. We sought to characterize the immunophenotype of leukocytes in the pleural effusion and peripheral blood of patients with tuberculosis or malignancy. METHODS: Thirty patients with tuberculosis (14) or malignancy (16) were studied. A control group included 20 healthy blood donors. RESULTS: Malignant phycoerythrin pleural effusions showed higher percentages of CD3, CD4, CD3CD45RO, and CD20CD25 lymphocytes and lower percentages of CD3CD25 and CD20HLA-DR when compared to PB lymphocytes. Compared to PB, tuberculous effusions had a higher percentage of lymphocytes that co-expressed CD3, CD4, CD3CD45RO, CD3TCR&#945;&#946;, CD3CD28, and CD20 and a lower percentage of CD14, CD8 and CD3TCR&#947;&#948;-positive lymphocytes. Malignant effusions presented higher expression of CD14 whereas tuberculous effusions had higher expression of CD3 and CD3CD95L. Peripheral blood cells from tuberculosis patients showed higher expression of CD14, CD20CD25 and CD3CD95L. Compared with the control cells, tuberculosis and cancer peripheral blood cells presented a lower percentage of CD3CD4 and CD3CD28-positive cells as well as a higher percentage of CD3CD8, CD3CD25 and CD3CD80-positive cells. CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculous and malignant peripheral blood is enriched with lymphocytes with a helper/inducer T cell phenotype, which are mainly of memory cells. CD14-positive cells were more frequently found in malignant effusions, while CD3-positive cells expressing Fas ligand were more frequently found in tuberculous effusions.(FAPESP) São Paulo Research FoundationCNPq National Council of Researc

Cordyceps sinensis biomass produced by submerged fermentation in high-fat diet feed rats normalizes the blood lipid and the low testosterone induced by diet

This study investigated the effect of Cordyceps sinensis biomass supplementation obtained from submerged fermentation on blood lipid and low testosterone induced by high-fat diet (HFD). The experiments were carried out using a long-term intake of HFD and HFD plus Simvastatin or C. sinensis (4 months). Our results show that plasma cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL were decreased by Cordyceps sinensis biomass supplementation (CSBS). A longterm intake of HFD caused a significant liver damage which has been reverted by CSBS. CSBS normalized decreasing testosterone levels observed in high-fat diet feed rats. All these findings lead us to suggest that C. sinensis was able to decrease blood lipid concentration, increase hepatoprotective activity and normalize testosterone levels

Endothelin-1 receptor blockade as new possible therapeutic approach in multiple myeloma.

New effective treatments are needed to improve outcomes for multiple myeloma (MM) patients. Receptors with restricted expression on plasmacells (PCs) represent attractive new therapeutic targets. The endothelin-1(EDN1) axis, consisting of EDN1 acting through EDN-receptor A(EDNRA) and B (EDNRB), was previously shown to be overexpressed inseveral tumours, including MM. However, there is incomplete understand-ing of how EDN1 axis regulates MM growth and response to therapy.Besides EDNRA, the majority of MM cell lines and primary malignant PCsexpress high levels of EDNRB and release EDN1. Similarly, bone-marrowmicroenvironment cells also secrete EDN1. Investigating the extent of epi-genetic dysregulation of EDNRB gene in MM, we found that hypermethyla-tion of EDNRB promoter and subsequent down-regulation of EDNRB genewas observed in PCs or B lymphocytes from healthy donors compared toEDNRB-expressing malignant PCs. Pharm acological blockade with the dualEDN1 receptor antagonist bosentan decreased cell viability and MAPK acti-vation of U266 and RPMI-8226 cells. Interestingly, the combination ofbosentan and the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, currently approved forMM treatment, resulted in synergistic cytotoxic effects. Overall, our datahas uncovered EDN1-mediated autocrine and paracrine mechanisms thatregulate malignant PCs growth and drug response, and support EDN1receptors as new therapeutic targets in MM

Ocorrência de Salmonella spp. em carcaças de frangos industrialmente processadas, procedentes de explorações industriais do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

A demanda de alimentos seguros aumentou no mercado. Além disso, a ausência de determinados microrganismos causadores de zoonoses em alimentos é uma exigência de regulamentos nacionais e internacionais. No entanto, mesmo com avanços tecnológicos, a carne de frango ainda é sujeita à contaminação bacteriana, especialmente por microorganismos do gênero Salmonella. Portanto, os objetivos deste trabalho foram: 1) pesquisar a ocorrência de Salmonella em carcaças de frango prontas para serem distribuídas no comércio e procedentes de explorações industriais do Estado de São Paulo e 2) classificar as amostras processadas quanto à presença ou à ausência de Salmonella em 25 gramas do produto. Para a realização do estudo, 116 amostras de carcaças de frango congeladas foram coletadas e analisadas, por meio do método convencional de cultivo, durante o período de julho de 2006 a junho de 2007. Deste total, duas amostras (1,7%) apresentaram contaminação por Salmonella spp. e uma (0,8%) por Salmonella Enteritidis, totalizando três amostras positivas (2,5%). Apesar de os resultados terem demonstrado uma porcentagem de contaminação menor que a verificada em outras pesquisas, os resultados obtidos representam um problema para a saúde pública

Assessment of sexual and body esteem in postpartum women with or without perineal laceration: a cross-sectional study with cultural translation and validation of the Vaginal Changes Sexual and Body Esteem Scale

Objective: We aimed to translate and determine cultural validity of the Vaginal Changes Sexual and Body Esteem Scale (VSBE) for Brazilian Portuguese language in postpartum women who underwent vaginal delivery with or without perineal laceration and cesarean section. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted virtually, with online data collection through a survey with 234 postpartum women of 975 that were invited. Clinical, sociodemographic, and psychometric variables from the VSBE questionnaire were analyzed (content validity index, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, construct/structural and discriminant validity). Multivariate analysis was performed to explore associated factors with the presence of perineal laceration. Results: One-hundred fifty-eight women experienced vaginal delivery, of which 24.79% had an intact perineum, 33.33% had perineal laceration, and 9.4% underwent episiotomy; and 76 participants had cesarean sections. Women with perineal laceration were older, presented dyspareunia and previous surgeries than women without perineal laceration (p 0.7) was observed, but it did not correlate with Body Attractiveness Questionnaire and Female Sexual Function Index; however, it correlated with the presence of women sutured for perineal laceration. Moreover, VSBE presented good structural validity with two loading factors after exploratory factor analysis. VSBE also demonstrated discriminant validity between the presence or absence of perineal laceration. The presence of urinary incontinence (UI) (OR=2.716[1.015-4.667];p=0.046) and a higher VSBE total score (OR=1.056[1.037-1.075];p<0.001) were the only factors associated with perineal laceration. Conclusion: Vaginal Changes Sexual and Body Esteem Scale demonstrated appropriate translation and good internal consistency, discriminant/construct validity and reliability. Vaginal Changes Sexual and Body Esteem Scale total score and presence of UI were associated with women that underwent perineal laceration

D-dimer and reduced-dose apixaban for extended treatment after unprovoked venous thromboembolism: the Apidulcis study.

D-dimer assay is used to stratify patients with unprovoked venous thromboembolism (VTE) for the risk of recurrence. However, this approach was never evaluated since direct oral anticoagulants are available. With this multicenter, prospective cohort study, we aimed to assess the value of an algorithm incorporating serial D-dimer testing and administration of reduced-dose apixaban (2.5 mg twice daily) only to patients with a positive test. A total of 732 outpatients aged 18 to 74 years, anticoagulated for ≥12 months after a first unprovoked VTE, were included. Patients underwent D-dimer testing with commercial assays and preestablished cutoffs. If the baseline D-dimer during anticoagulation was negative, anticoagulation was stopped and testing repeated after 15, 30, and 60 days. Patients with serially negative results (286 [39.1%]) were left without anticoagulation. At the first positive result, the remaining 446 patients (60.9%) were given apixaban for 18 months. All patients underwent follow-up planned for 18 months. The study was interrupted after a planned interim analysis for the high rate of primary outcomes (7.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.5-11.2), including symptomatic proximal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) recurrence, death for VTE, and major bleeding occurring in patients off anticoagulation vs that in those receiving apixaban (1.1%; 95% CI, 0.4-2.6; adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 8.2; 95% CI, 3.2-25.3). In conclusion, in patients anticoagulated for ≥1 year after a first unprovoked VTE, the decision to further extend anticoagulation should not be based on D-dimer testing. The results confirmed the high efficacy and safety of reduced-dose apixaban against recurrences. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03678506