Studies of light perception in marine diatoms and discovery of a novel blue light cryptochrome photoreceptor

The research project has focused on the structural and functional characterization of a gene denoted PtCPF1 (Cryptochrome/Photolyase Family 1) that encodes a putative photoreceptor in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricomutum. Cryptochromes (cry) are blue light receptors that share sequence similarity with photolyases, flavoproteins that catalyze the repair of UV light-damaged DNA. In order to characterize the diatom PtCPF1 gene, expression at both transcriptional and translational levels have been performed in time course experiments designed to study circadian rhythmicity and acute light induction responses. From this analysis PtCPF1 was shown to be strongly induced under blue light and to be expressed diurnally. In order to understand better the function of the gene product, the protein has been expressed and purified in E. coli. Spectral and biochemical analyses of the purified protein have shown that PtCPF1 is a blue-light-absorbing protein with DNA repair activity. On the other hand, localization studies in diatom cells have evidenced the constitutive nuclear localization of the protein. Interestingly, comparative analysis of the diatom PtCPF1 protein has revealed it to be more similar to the animal cryptochromes than to plant counterparts. Since animal crys act as components of the circadian clock controlling daily physiological and behavioural rhythms and as photoreceptors that mediate entrainment of the circadian clock to light, it was important to elucidate the function of the PtCPF1 protein both in a heterologous system and in an in vivo system. Remarkably, transcription assays developed in mammalian cells have evidenced a repressor activity of the PtCPF1 protein within the clock machinery, mimicking the function of animal crys. Furthermore, gene expression studies of transgenic diatom lines overexpressing PtCPF1 have indicated that the protein acts as a blue light photoreceptor because it can modulate several blue light-dependent responses. Therefore, this research project has identified a novel protein that displays both blue light photoreceptor activity as well as DNA repair activity. This protein could, in fact, be considered the missing link in the evolutionary history of the Cryptochrome/Photolyase family

L'architettura templare faraonica in Nubia

L'opera analizza lo sviluppo e l'evoluzione delle costruzioni templari egizie nella regione della Nubia, relativamente al periodo faraonico. Vengono indagati i siti in ordine geografico: dalla I alla IV cateratta del Nilo. Sono prese in esame le piante delle strutture e le decorazioni al fine di coglierne le caratteristiche

Commentario agli Atti di Paolo e Tecla: composizione e trasmissione di un modello narrativo nel cristianesimo delle origini

Il commento riguarda un’analisi delle caratteristiche morfologiche, sintattiche e lessicali degli Atti di Paolo e Tecla. Tale commentario è preceduto da due capitoli introduttivi: nel primo vengono discusse le problematiche relative alla redazione e alla trasmissione del testo; il secondo affronta gli indirizzi dottrinali, in particolar modo il rapporto tra gli Atti di Paolo e Tecla, i testi canonici e l’encratismo. Segue un’appendice sull’area semantica della “vista”. Il testo greco (fonts SuperGreek, ved. documento 2), comprensivo delle finali dei codd. ABC e del cod. G, è accompagnato da una nuova traduzione italiana. Gli indici conclusivi (parole commentate; fonti citate; indice tematico; index grammaticus-figure retoriche; usus scribendi) facilitano la consultazione del commentario e dei richiami interni ai capitoli introduttivi e all’appendice

Treatment options for PNET liver metastases. a systematic review

Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs) are rare pancreatic neoplasms. About 40-80% of patients with PNET are metastatic at presentation, usually involving the liver (40-93%). Liver metastasis represents the most significant prognostic factor. The aim of this study is to present an up-to-date review of treatment options for patients with liver metastases from PNETs

The staging of gastritis with the olga system in the italian setting. histological features and gastric cancer risk

BACKGROUND: Recently OLGA (Operative Link on Gastritis Assessment) classification has been proposed to identify high-risk forms of gastritis that can evolve in gastric cancer (stages III and IV). Helicobacter pylori infection and age older than 40 have been considered as independent risk factor for high-risk OLGA stages

Low cost inkjet fabrication of glucose electrochemical sensors based on copper oxide

The availability of low cost, efficient and wearable glucose sensors is one of the prerequisites for the development of ubiquitous sensors networks for the efficient monitoring of diabetes epidemiology. Starting from this principle, wet metallization and low cost inkjet printing were employed in the present work to manufacture non-enzymatic electrochemical sensors. CuO nanoparticles were inkjet printed on platinum, which was electrodeposited on stainless steel. The active layer obtained in this way showed an acceptable linear range for glucose detection and a good sensitivity when used as sensor. The influence on performances of interfering species and curvature were investigated, demonstrating a negligible effect for the first and a decrease in linearity of the response and sensitivity for the latter

Rituximab plus chemotherapy provides no clinical benefit in a peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified with aberrant expression of CD20 and CD79a. A case report and review of the literature

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) is the most common entity of mature T-cell neoplasms. PTCL-NOS generally has an aggressive behavior and is often refractory to standard therapy. Only a few cases of PTCL with aberrant expression of B-cell antigens have been reported so far. This phenotypic aberrancy may lead to misdiagnosis as B-cell non- Hodgkin lymphomas and eventual inappropriate patient management, whereas in an accurately diagnosed PTCL, the presence of CD20 may appear as an appealing therapeutic target. In this setting, response to anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody in combination with chemotherapy has been poorly explored. We describe the case of a 59-year-old male diagnosed by a pathological and molecular approach as PTCL-NOS with aberrant co-expression of the B-cell antigens CD20 and CD79a, which proved non-responsive to the addition of rituximab to standard polychemotherapy. This case highlights that the presence of CD20 in PTCL may be misleading in the diagnosis and also act as a lure for the clinician to adopt a rituximab-based treatment, the effectiveness of which is undefined as the molecular mechanisms underlying B-cell marker expression in PTCL

The Ferroxidase Hephaestin in Lung Cancer: Pathological Significance and Prognostic Value

Hephaestin (HEPH) belongs to a group of exocytoplasmic ferroxidases which contribute to cellular iron homeostasis by favouring its export. Down-regulation of HEPH expression, possibly by stimulating cell proliferation due to an increase in iron availability, has shown to correlate with poor survival in breast cancer. The lung is particularly sensitive to iron-induced oxidative stress, given the high oxygen tension present, however, HEPH distribution in lung cancer and its influence on prognosis have not been investigated yet. In this study we explored the prognostic value of HEPH and its expression pattern in the most prevalent histotypes of lung cancers, namely lung adenocarcinoma and lung squamous cell carcinoma. In silico analyses, based on UALCAN, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) and Kaplan–Meier plotter bioinformatics, revealed a significant correlation between higher levels of HEPH expression and favorable prognosis, in both cancer histotypes. Moreover, TIMER web platform showed a statistically significant association between HEPH expression and cell elements belonging to the tumor microenvironment identified as endothelial cells and a subpopulation of cancer-associated fibroblasts, further confirmed by double immunohistochemical labeling with cell type specific markers. Taken together, these data shed a light on the complex mechanisms of local iron handling lung cancer can exploit to support tumorigenesis

Rituximab Plus Chemotherapy Provides No Clinical Benefit in a Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma Not Otherwise Specified with Aberrant Expression of CD20 and CD79a: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) is the most common entity of mature T-cell neoplasms. PTCL-NOS generally has an aggressive behavior and is often refractory to standard therapy. Only a few cases of PTCL with aberrant expression of B-cell antigens have been reported so far. This phenotypic aberrancy may lead to misdiagnosis as B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas and eventual inappropriate patient management, whereas in an accurately diagnosed PTCL, the presence of CD20 may appear as an appealing therapeutic target. In this setting, response to anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody in combination with chemotherapy has been poorly explored. We describe the case of a 59-year-old male diagnosed by a pathological and molecular approach as PTCL-NOS with aberrant co-expression of the B-cell antigens CD20 and CD79a, which proved non-responsive to the addition of rituximab to standard polychemotherapy. This case highlights that the presence of CD20 in PTCL may be misleading in the diagnosis and also act as a lure for the clinician to adopt a rituximab-based treatment, the effectiveness of which is undefined as the molecular mechanisms underlying B-cell marker expression in PTCL

Asbestos Fibers Enhance the TMEM16A Channel Activity in Xenopus Oocytes

Background: The interaction of asbestos fibers with target cell membranes is still poorly investigated. Here, we detected and characterized an enhancement of chloride conductance in Xenopus oocyte cell membranes induced by exposure to crocidolite (Croc) asbestos fibers. Methods: A two-microelectrode voltage clamp technique was used to test the effect of Croc fiber suspensions on outward chloride currents evoked by step membrane depolarization. Calcium imaging experiments were also performed to investigate the variation of ‘resting’ oocyte [Ca2+]i following asbestos exposure. Results: The increase in chloride current after asbestos treatment, was sensitive to [Ca2+]e, and to specific blockers of TMEM16A Ca2+-activated chloride channels, MONNA and Ani9. Furthermore, asbestos treatment elevated the ‘resting’ [Ca2+]i likelihood by increasing the cell membrane permeability to Ca2 in favor of a tonic activation of TMEME16A channels. Western blot analysis confirmed that TMEME16A protein was endogenously present in the oocyte cell membrane and absorbed by Croc. Conclusion: the TMEM16A channels endogenously expressed by Xenopus oocytes are targets for asbestos fibers and represent a powerful tool for asbestos–membrane interaction studies. Interestingly, TMEM16A channels are highly expressed in many types of tumors, including some asbestos-related cancers, suggesting them, for the first time, as a possible early target of crocidolite-mediated tumorigenic effects on target cell membranes