Malattie infiammatorie del colon e del pancreas e loro associazioni genetiche

Le malattie pancreatiche sono associate ad una intensa infiammazione e il polimorfismo -2518G del gene MCP1 altera l’espressione della chemochina accrescendo la flogosi. Evidenziamo un’associazione del polimorfismo con pancreatite acuta ricorrente e negli obesi con pancreatite cronica. Nessuna associazione è stata individuata tra MCP1 e IBD. Lo studio ha valutato anche gli effetti del polimorfismo GSTT1 nei pazienti affetti da malattie pancreatiche. Esso comporta la mancata espressione della proteina accessoria che quando presente, catalizza la coniugazione del glutatione ridotto con specie elettrofile. La presenza di GSTT1 comporta una deplezione precoce del glutatione e pertanto una perdita dei suoi effetti protettivi sui tessuti e sembrerebbe che l’assenza di tale gene riduca il danno nelle cellule pancreatiche. Lo studio ha evidenziato una differenza significativa nella frequenza del polimorfismo tra pazienti con pancreatite acuta e quelli con pancreatite acuta ricorrente e cronica. Quindi GSTT1 sembrerebbe coinvolto nello sviluppo delle patologie pancreatiche con tendenza alla cronicizzazione. Si è indagata inoltre la possibile associazione delle mutazioni del gene NOD2/CARD15 con le IBD. Esse comportano un’inadeguata risposta infiammatoria nei confronti di antigeni endoluminali, processo associato alla patogenesi delle IBD. Lo studio ha rilevato un’associazione significativa tra la mutazione 1007fs e il morbo di Crohn.Pancreatic diseases are associated with intense inflammation and the polymorphism -2518G of MCP1 gene alters chemokine expression increasing phlogosis. We noticed an association of the polymorphism with acute recurrent pancreatitis and in obese subjects with chronic pancreatitis. No association was found between MCP1 and IBD. This study evaluated also the GSTT1 polymorphism effects on patients affected by pancreatic diseases. It causes loss of expression of the accessory protein that, when active, catalyzes reduced glutathione conjugation with electrophilic species. GSTT1 presence provokes a rapid glutathione depletion therefore loosing its protective effects on tissues. It seems that absence of the gene may reduce pancreatic cells damage. The study evidenced a significant difference in the polymorphism expression between patients with acute pancreatitis and those with acute recurrent and chronic pancreatitis. It seems that the polymorphism is involved in the development of pancreatic diseases which tend to become chronic. It has also been investigated the possible association of NOD2/CARD15 gene mutations with IBD. They cause an inadequate inflammatory response against endoluminal antigens, process that is associated with IBD pathogenesis. This study evidenced a significant association between 1007fs mutation and Crohn’s disease

Progettazione e sviluppo di un Flow Meter a basso consumo energetico per impianti di irrigazione intelligenti

L’acqua non è sempre un bene fruibile in qualsiasi momento da tutti. Spesso viene sprecata senza ritegno nei momenti in cui vi è abbondanza per poi trovarsi a doverne limitare l’uso nei periodi di siccità. In particolare, focalizzandoci sullo scenario agricolo, è possibile rilevare consumi di acqua anche al di sopra del 50% superiori al reale fabbisogno del terreno e delle colture. Questi sprechi possono essere dovuti a diverse motivazioni, come per esempio impianti di irrigazione mal progettati, sistemi di distribuzione e conteggio empirici etc… L’obiettivo di questo progetto è il voler eliminare tutti gli errori derivati da approssimazioni nel conteggio della quantità di acqua distribuita. Per permettere questo è stato quindi sviluppato un contatore di flusso, denominato Flow Meter, in grado di garantire una precisione al centinaio di litri nel conteggio. I punti di forza di questo sistema sono, oltre che la sufficiente precisione di conteggio, la possibilità di trasmettere i dati a lungo raggio grazie all’utilizzo della tecnologia di trasmissione a radiofrequenza LoRa, in combinazione con il bassissimo costo energetico del modulo che lo rende in grado di poter sopravvivere a lungo con un solo pacco batteria. Questo dispositivo è stato poi inserito all’interno del progetto SWAMP (Smart Water Management Platform), mettendolo in condizione di poter coesistere in un ambiente eterogeneo di sensori, i cui dati vengono resi disponibili in una piattaforma di gestione online

Cluster-Assembled Nanoporous Super-Hydrophilic Smart Surfaces for On-Target Capturing and Processing of Biological Samples for Multi-Dimensional MALDI-MS

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS) on cluster-assembled super-hydrophilic nanoporous titania films deposited on hydrophobic conductive-polymer substrates feature a unique combination of surface properties that significantly improve the possibilities of capturing and processing biological samples before and during the MALDI-MS analysis without changing the selected sample target (multi-dimensional MALDI-MS). In contrast to pure hydrophobic surfaces, such films promote a remarkable biologically active film porosity at the nanoscale due to the soft assembling of ultrafine atomic clusters. This unique combination of nanoscale porosity and super-hydrophilicity provides room for effective sample capturing, while the hydrophilic-hydrophobic discontinuity at the border of the dot-patterned film acts as a wettability-driven containment for sample/reagent droplets. In the present work, we evaluate the performance of such advanced surface engineered reactive containments for their benefit in protein sample processing and characterization. We shortly discuss the advantages resulting from the introduction of the described chips in the MALDI-MS workflow in the healthcare/clinical context and in MALDI-MS bioimaging (MALDI-MSI)

Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies: scFv patents as a marker of a new class of potential biopharmaceuticals

Monoclonal antibodies represent the fastest growing class of biopharmaceutical products and have a host of applications in medical research, diagnosis, therapy, and basic science. The production of recombinant monoclonal antibodies has revolutionized the generation of immunoglobulins, and their use represents a strategic breakthrough, affecting the global pharmaceutical market for therapeutic proteins. In the present work, a review of scFv, and the number of related patents, has been carried out. The results show that several countries have scFv patents, most notably the United States, China and United Kingdom. The target of these scFv antibodies was also assessed and the results demonstrate that most are directed toward cancer therapy.Anticorpos monoclonais representam a classe de maior crescimento em produtos de biofármacos e possuem várias aplicações em pesquisa médica, diagnóstico, terapias e ciência básica. A produção de anticorpos monoclonais recombinantes revolucionou a geração de imunoglobulinas e sua utilização implica em avanço estratégico, afetando o mercado farmacêutico global de proteínas terapêuticas. No presente trabalho, uma revisão sobre scFv e a relação do seu número de patentes foi analisada. Os resultados mostram que vários países apresentam patentes de scFv com destaque para os Estados Unidos, China e Reino Unido. Os alvos desses anticorpos também foram avaliados e as análises revelaram que a maioria é destinado a terapias contra o câncer.National Scientific and Technological Development Council (CNPq)FAPESPINCTTo

Gestão Ambiental e Viabilidade para Obtenção de Certificação Ambiental

O objetivo foi diagnosticar a gestão ambiental e verificar a viabilidade para obtenção de certificação ambiental em uma oficina de refrigeração automotiva. Foi utilizada a abordagem qualitativa para o diagnóstico, e quantitativa que identificou a valorização e disposição a pagar dos potenciais clientes por produtos/ serviços certificados ambientalmente. Com a projeção de receitas foi calculada a viabilidade do investimento na certificação utilizando parcialmente o modelo Bertolini, Rojo e Lezana (2012). O estudo foi classificado como descritivo e exploratório. A empresa possui práticas de gestão ambiental, mas serão necessárias adequações para obtenção da certificação, orçou o investimento, identificou que mais de 50% dos potenciais clientes valorizam serviços/empresas com selo verde e que 90% destes, estão dispostos a pagar a mais por estes serviços o valor de dez reais, há viabilidade no investimento, com retorno aproximado de dois reais e trinta e oito centavos para cada real investido, considerando o prazo de vinte e quatro meses de validade da certificação

C. elegans genome-wide analysis reveals DNA repair pathways that act cooperatively to preserve genome integrity upon ionizing radiation.

Ionizing radiation (IR) is widely used in cancer therapy and accidental or environmental exposure is a major concern. However, little is known about the genome-wide effects IR exerts on germ cells and the relative contribution of DNA repair pathways for mending IR-induced lesions. Here, using C. elegans as a model system and using primary sequencing data from our recent high-level overview of the mutagenic consequences of 11 genotoxic agents, we investigate in detail the genome-wide mutagenic consequences of exposing wild-type and 43 DNA repair and damage response defective C. elegans strains to a Caesium (Cs-137) source, emitting γ-rays. Cs-137 radiation induced single nucleotide variants (SNVs) at a rate of ~1 base substitution per 3 Gy, affecting all nucleotides equally. In nucleotide excision repair mutants, this frequency increased 2-fold concurrently with increased dinucleotide substitutions. As observed for DNA damage induced by bulky DNA adducts, small deletions were increased in translesion polymerase mutants, while base changes decreased. Structural variants (SVs) were augmented with dose, but did not arise with significantly higher frequency in any DNA repair mutants tested. Moreover, 6% of all mutations occurred in clusters, but clustering was not significantly altered in any DNA repair mutant background. Our data is relevant for better understanding how DNA repair pathways modulate IR-induced lesions

Evaluation of health parameters, use of drugs, and alcohol intake among an elderly population in São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil

AIM:To evaluate health parameters (blood pressure, heart rate and blood glucose), the use of medicines and alcohol consumption in elderly residents in the city of São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.METHODS:A sample of 500 elderly individuals (98 men and 402 women, with mean age of 69.5 years) was examined. Personal data and medicines used by the patients were recorded, general health aspects were assessed and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was applied to survey alcohol consumption.RESULTS:Two hundred and four patients (40.8%) presented high blood pressure and 93 patients (18.6%) had hyperglycemia. The most used pharmacological groups were antihypertensive drugs, antilipidemics, drugs to control hypothyroidism and hypoglycemic agents. Possible pharmacological interactions with alcohol were present in 60.9% of the used medicines. The AUDIT results showed that 91% of the sample presented a low-level intake of alcohol and only 1% presented characteristics of alcohol addiction. Associations were found among AUDIT scores with age (p=0.037), since a larger number of alcohol addicts were found among younger patients, and use of drugs (p=0.046), since patients who consumed more daily medicines made less use of alcohol (low-level).CONCLUSIONS:The studied sample presented a high prevalence of hypertension and relatively low incidence of diabetes. A low use of drugs was verified and women made more use of daily medications than men. Low alcohol consumption was also observed, and women consumed less alcohol than men.768

CP Violation and the Cathedral Builders' Paradigm

Pointing out the profound and unique nature of CP violation, I sketch its basic phenomenology, its CKM prescription and QCD technologies relevant for heavy flavour physics. After emphasizing the paradigmatic character of the establishment of direct CP violation I turn to the future, namely indirect searches for New Physics in electric dipole moments, $K_{\mu 3}$ decays and charm transitions on one hand and in beauty decays on the other; these are described as exciting adventures with novel challenges not encountered before.Comment: 20 pages, LaTex, Introductory Lecture given at CPconf2000, Intern. Conf. on CP Violation Physics, Sept. 18 - 22, 2000, Ferrara, Italy; few additions, in particular one reference to an early paper by Mohapatra on CP violatio

"All-in-one mesh" hernioplasty: A new procedure for primary inguinal hernia open repair.

Summary: Background: We propose a new open mesh hernia repair procedure for the treatment of inguinal hernias in adults aiming to improve patients' comfort and to reduce the incidence of chronic neuralgia. Methods: From September 2012 to August 2015, 250 consecutive patients were treated with "all in-one" mesh hernioplasty procedure in our Institution. According to the devised technique, a new smaller prosthesis was placed on the floor of the inguinal canal in order to strengthen all areas of weakness from which hernias may originate. The mesh was enveloped by a fibro-cremasteric sheath avoiding contact with neural structures. Follow-up was carried out at 3, 6, 12, 18 and 24 months for evaluation of postoperative pain using Visual Analogue Scale score, need of medication, patients' comfort and short or long-term complications. Results: All patients were discharged within 24 h from surgery. Slight pain was reported by the majority of patients and 47.6% of them did not require pain medication at home. After the 1st postoperative week 96.8% reported no pain and no other symptoms. No relevant limitation of normal activities was reported. There has been no postoperative neuralgia. One recurrence was observed. Conclusions: This new hernioplasty technique respects the anatomy of the inguinal canal, uses a smaller mesh, and seems to avoid neuralgia with maximum comfort for the patients. Keywords: Inguinal hernioplasty, Tension free hernia repair, Hernioplasty technique, Mesh for groin hernia, Neuralgia post-hernioplast

AVALIAÇÃO DA FORÇA MUSCULAR DO MANGUITO ROTADOR, EM SUJEITOS COM SÍNDROME DO IMPACTO

A Sndrome do Impacto uma das doenas do manguito rotador que mais frequentemente provoca dor e disfuno no ombro. Sua etiologia varia desde a impactao dos tecidos moles com estruturas rgidas do ombro durante elevao do brao, microtraumas repetidos, anormalidades anatmicas do acrmio, degenerao de tendes do manguito rotador. Questiona-se tambm a possibilidade de desequilbrios de fora entre os msculos rotadores internos e externos ser uma possvel causa. Desse modo, o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a presena de desequilbrios musculares do manguito rotador, em sujeitos portadores de sndrome do impacto. Com o uso de uma clula de carga foram feitos testes de fora muscular isomtrica dos msculos do manguito rotador nos ombros lesados, nos contralaterais e em sujeitos controle. Posteriormente, os dados foram submetidos anlise estatstica por meio da Anlise de Varincia (ANOVA) e teste de Tukey. Observou-se diferena estatstica significativa ao se comparar o membro lesado com o no lesado, respectivamente em rotao externa nas posies neutra e 30 (p0,001). Conclui-se ento que os indivduos com Sndrome do Impacto possuem desequilbrio de fora muscular em rotao externa ao comparar com o lado contralateral