Broccoli, PTEN deletion and prostate cancer: where is the link?

The concept that vegetables and fruits are relevant sources of cancer-preventive substances is strongly supported by population studies. Among others, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts are thought to affect the development of various types of cancers and especially prostate tumors. Yet, the identification of the molecular mechanisms by which the 'active' compounds contained in these vegetables mediate their anticancer activity has historically lagged behind. Accordingly, direct laboratory evidence of how individual nutrients affect cancer genes and the pathways they control remains the major obstacle to progress in this research field. Here we review a recent report investigating the interaction between sulforaphane, a dietary isothiocyanate derived from broccoli, and expression of the PTEN tumor suppressor gene in pre malignant prostate tissue

Arzanol, a prenylated heterodimeric phloroglucinyl pyrone, inhibits eicosanoid biosynthesis and exhibits anti-inflammatory efficacy in vivo.

Based on its capacity to inhibit in vitro HIV-1 replication in T cells and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in monocytes, the prenylated heterodimeric phloroglucinyl α-pyrone arzanol was identified as the major anti-inflammatory and anti-viral constituent from Helichrysum italicum. We have now investigated the activity of arzanol on the biosynthesis of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, evaluating its anti-inflammatory efficacy in vitro and in vivo. Arzanol inhibited 5-lipoxygenase (EC 7.13.11.34) activity and related leukotriene formation in neutrophils, as well as the activity of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 (EC 1.14.99.1) and the formation of COX-2-derived prostaglandin (PG)E(2)in vitro (IC(50)=2.3-9μM). Detailed studies revealed that arzanol primarily inhibits microsomal PGE(2) synthase (mPGES)-1 (EC 5.3.99.3, IC(50)=0.4μM) rather than COX-2. In fact, arzanol could block COX-2/mPGES-1-mediated PGE(2) biosynthesis in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human monocytes and human whole blood, but not the concomitant COX-2-derived biosynthesis of thromboxane B(2) or of 6-keto PGF(1α), and the expression of COX-2 or mPGES-1 protein was not affected. Arzanol potently suppressed the inflammatory response of the carrageenan-induced pleurisy in rats (3.6mg/kg, i.p.), with significantly reduced levels of PGE(2) in the pleural exudates. Taken together, our data show that arzanol potently inhibits the biosynthesis of pro-inflammatory lipid mediators like PGE(2)in vitro and in vivo, providing a mechanistic rationale for the anti-inflammatory activity of H. italicum, and a rationale for further pre-clinical evaluation of this novel anti-inflammatory lead

A Convenient Synthesis of 5′-Iodoresiniferatoxin (I-RTX)

Starting from resiniferonol orthophenylacetate (ROPA, 2) and commercial 5-iodovanillin (5a), a convenient synthesis of the ultrapotent vanilloid antagonist 5′-iodoresiniferatoxin (1a) was achieved, overcoming the problems involved in the direct iodination of either resiniferatoxin (1b) or homovanillic acid (3a)

Inconvenientes en la obtención, preservación y presentación de la prueba electrónica

Las tareas relacionadas con la obtención, preservación y presentación de la prueba digital en  una causa judicial parecen no ser tan simples. El artículo que se presenta a continuación refleja los inconvenientes desde su definición, mención en la legislación vigente, tratamiento en el proceso judicial y su implicancia en el campo pericial informático

Heritage-related indicators for urban sustainable development: a systematic review

In recent years, interest in urban sustainability has grown, leading it to attain a central importance in the international contemporary debate on the future development of cities. Heritage, which has long been absent from the mainstream sustainable development debate, is nowadays recognized to have great potential in contributing to social, economic and environmental sustainability goals. Nevertheless, heritage as a key problem area of urban sustainable development is often limited to theoretical discourse. For this reason, several authors have stressed the urgency to develop a set of indicators to assess the role that heritage could play in urban sustainable development. On this basis, the present papers aims to fill this gap by providing a critical literature review of actual urban sustainability assessment methodologies, in order to contribute to the creation of a state-of-the-art framework of heritage-related indictors.