Corrosion prediction of metallic cultural heritage assets by EIS

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) was used to predict corrosion behaviour of metallic Cultural Heritage assets in two monitoring campaigns: 1) an iron bar chain exposed indoor from over 500 years in the Notre Dame Cathedral in Amiens (France); and 2) a large weathering steel sculpture exposed outdoor from tens of years in Ferrara (Italy). The EIS portable instrument employed was battery operated. In situ EIS measurements on the iron chain could be used to investigate the phenomena involved in the electrochemical interfaces among various corrosion products and assess and predict their corrosion behaviour in different areas of the Cathedral. Meanwhile, the sculpture of weathering steel, like most outdoor artefacts, showed rust layers of different chemical composition and colour depending on the orientation of metal plates. The EIS monitoring campaign was carried out on different areas of the artefact surface, allowing assessment of their protective effectiveness. Results of EIS measurements evidenced how employing a simple test that could be performed in situ without damaging the artefacts surface is possible to quickly gain knowledge of the conservation state of an artefact and highlight potential danger conditions

Mitochondrial F0F1-ATP synthase is a molecular target of 3-iodothyronamine, an endogenous metabolite of thyroid hormone

Background & Purpose:\u2002 T1AM is a thyronamine derivative of thyroid hormone acting as a signalling molecule via non-genomic effectors and can reach intracellular targets. In light of the importance of F(0) F(1) -ATPsynthase as a target in drug development, T1AM interaction with the enzyme is demonstrated by its effects on the activity and a model of binding locations is depicted. Experimental Approach:\u2002 Kinetic analyses were performed on F(0) F(1) -ATPsynthase in sub-mitochondrial particles and soluble F(1) -ATPase. Activity assays and immunodetection of the inhibitor protein IF(1) were used and combined with molecular docking analyses. In situ respirometric analysis of T1AM effect was investigated on H9c2 cardiomyocytes. Key Results:\u2002 T1AM is a non-competitive inhibitor of F(0) F(1) -ATPsynthase whose binding is mutually exclusive with that of the inhibitors IF(1) and aurovertin B. Distinct T1AM binding sites are consistent with results from both kinetic and docking analyses: at low nanomolar concentrations, T1AM binds to a high affinity-region likely located within the IF(1) binding site, causing IF(1) release; at higher concentrations, T1AM binds to a low affinity-region likely located within the aurovertin binding cavity and inhibits enzyme activity. Low nanomolar concentrations of T1AM elicit in cardiomyocytes an increase in ADP-stimulated mitochondrial respiration indicative for an activation of F(0) F(1) -ATPsynthase consistent with displacement of endogenous IF(1, ) thereby reinforcing the in vitro results. Conclusions & Implications:\u2002 The T1AM effects upon F(0) F(1) -ATPsynthase are twofold: IF(1) displacement and enzyme inhibition. By targeting F(0) F(1) -ATPsynthase within mitochondria T1AM might affect cell bioenergetics with a positive effect on mitochondrial energy production at low endogenous concentration. T1AM putative binding locations overlapping with IF(1) and aurovertin binding sites are depicted

Mutagênese em Petunia x hybrida Vilm. e isolamento de um novo mutante morfológico

Traditionally, mutagenesis has been used to introduce novel genetic variability in ornamental crops. More recently, it has become a powerful tool in gene discovery and functional analyses in reverse genetics approaches. The present work aimed to compare the efficiency of physical and chemical agents in generating mutant populations of petunia. We have indirectly evaluated the genomic damage by analyzing developmental characteristics of the plantlets derived from treated seeds employing gamma radiation at 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 Gy and the alkylating agent ethyl-methanesulfonate (EMS) at 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 and 0.25% (v/v). Gamma rays and EMS caused developmental defects and decreased seedling viability in plants obtained from the mutagenized seeds. High mutagen doses reduced in approximately 44% the number of plants with primary leaves at 15 days after sowing (DAS) and decreased seedling survival rates to 55% (gamma) and 28% (EMS), in comparison to untreated controls. Seedling height decrease was proportional to increasing EMS dosage, whereas 40 and 60 Gy of gamma irradiation caused the most significant reduction in height. Moderate DNA damage allowing a high saturation of mutant alleles in the genome and the generation of viable plants for reverse genetics studies was correlated to the biological parameter LD50, the dose required to kill half of the tested population. It corresponded to 100 Gy for gamma radiation and 0.1% for EMS treatment. The optimized mutagen treatments were used to develop petunia mutant populations (M1 and M2) and novel morphological mutants were identified.A mutagênese tem sido tradicionalmente usada para gerar variabilidade genética em plantas ornamentais. Recentemente, tornou-se uma ferramenta poderosa na descoberta e análise da função gênica em genética reversa. Este trabalho objetivou comparar a eficiência da mutagênese física e química na geração de populações mutantes de petúnia. O dano genômico foi avaliado indiretamente por características de desenvolvimento de plântulas após o tratamento com doses de radiação gama de 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 e 100 Gy e do agente alquilante etil-metanossulfonato (EMS) de 0; 0,05; 0,1; 0,15; 0,2 e 0,25% (v/v). Radiação gama e EMS causaram danos ao desenvolvimento e reduziram a viabilidade das plântulas derivadas das sementes tratadas. As maiores doses de mutagênico diminuíram o número de plantas com folhas primárias aos 15 dias após a semeadura (DAS) em aproximadamente 44% e reduziram as taxas de sobrevivência a 55% (gama) e 28% (EMS) em relação aos controles. A redução na altura das plântulas foi proporcional ao aumento das dosagens de EMS, enquanto 40 e 60 Gy de radiação gama provocaram a redução mais significativa na altura de plantas. Abordagens de genética reversa requerem danos genômicos moderados, que permitam alta saturação de alelos mutantes com pequena redução no número de plantas viáveis, relacionados ao parâmetro biológico DL50, dosagem de mutagênico necessária para eliminar metade da população. Este valor correspondeu a 100 Gy de radiação gama e 0,1% de EMS. Os tratamentos foram empregados para a geração de populações mutantes de petúnia (M1 e M2) e novos mutantes morfológicos foram isolados.FAPES

Assessing the Role of Carbonyl Adducts, Particularly Malondialdehyde Adducts, in the Development of Dermis Yellowing Occurring during Skin Photoaging

Solar elastosis is associated with a diffuse yellow hue of the skin. Photoaging is related to lipid peroxidation leading to the formation of carbonyl groups. Protein carbonylation can occur by addition of reactive aldehydes, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxy-nonenal (4-HNE), and acrolein. All the proteins concerned with this modification, and the biological consequences of adduct formation, are not completely identified. The link between yellowish skin and dermal carbonylated proteins induced by aldehyde adducts was investigated. The study was carried out on ex vivo skin samples from sun-exposed or sun-protected areas and on in vitro dermal equivalent models incubated with 5 mM MDA, 4-HNE, or acrolein. The yellow color and the level of MDA, 4-HNE, and acrolein adducts were evaluated. Yellowish color differences were detected in the dermis of sun-exposed skin compared to sun-protected skin and in in vitro models following addition of MDA, 4-HNE, or acrolein. The yellowing was correlated with the carbonyl adducts increasing in the dermis and in in vitro models incubated with aldehydes. The stronger yellowing seemed to be mediated more by MDA than 4-HNE and acrolein. These observations suggest that dermal carbonylation especially induced by MDA result in the yellow hue of dermis and is involved, in part, in the yellowing observed during skin photoaging

Use of intravesical injections of platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of bladder pain syndrome: A comprehensive literature review

Background: Bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis (BPS/IC) or primary bladder pain syndrome (PBPS) is a complex and poorly understood condition. This comprehensive review aimed to discuss the potential application of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) in the treatment of BPS/IC. The pathophysiology of BPS/IC is characterized by urothelial damage that triggers a chain of events leading to chronic inflammation and other conditions. Frequently, in subjects affected by BPS/IC, recurrent urinary tract infection (rUTI) is associated with difficult therapeutic management. For these reasons, many oral and intravesical treatments (e.g., antibiotic therapy and intravesical anesthetic instillations) have been proposed to alleviate the symptoms of IC/BPS. However, the limitation of these treatments is the short duration of improvement. The purpose of this review is to analyze the efficacy of intravesical PRP injections in subjects with PBS/IC and to try to understand the potential therapeutic effects on the pathophysiology of this disease. Methods: A nonsystematic literature search using Pubmed, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, Medline was performed from January 2000 to August 2021. The following terms were combined to capture relevant publications: “platelet-rich plasma”, “interstitial cystitis”, “PRP”, “bladder pain syndrome”, and “painful bladder syndrome”. Results: After exclusion of non-pertinent studies/articles, we have analyzed 5 studies. In detail, 2 articles concerned preclinical studies in which animal models were used. The authors showed an improvement in the histological pattern with less bleeding in treated subjects, a lower presence of inflammatory cytokines and an increase in the mitotic index of urothelial cells in animals treated with intravesical PRP. In the three prospective clinical trials analyzed, patients with BPS/IC who underwent monthly intravesical PRP injections were found to have a statistically significant improvement in symptoms with modulation of growth factors and inflammatory proteins. Conclusions: New evidence suggests that treatment with intravesical PRP could improve urothelial regeneration and reduces chronic inflammation in BPS/IC, modifying the clinical history of its pathology