Gortina, "Terme Milano" : ricostruzione 3D del complesso e restauro dei mosaici e dei rivestimenti in opus sectile

Presentazione di alcune ipotesi di ricostruzione tridimensionale dell'impianto termale a sud del Pretorio a Gortina (detto "Terme Milano") e del progetto di restauro dei rivestimenti e pavimenti in mosaico e sectile

Functional TRAIL receptors in monocytes and tumor-associated macrophages: A possible targeting pathway in the tumor microenvironment

Despite the accepted dogma that TRAIL kills only tumor cells and spares normal ones, we show in this study that mononuclear phagocytes are susceptible to recombinant TRAIL via caspase-dependent apoptosis. Human resting monocytes and in vitro-differentiated macrophages expressed substantial levels of the functional TRAIL receptors (TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2), while neutrophils and lymphocytes mostly expressed the non-signaling decoy receptor (TRAIL-R3). Accordingly, exclusively monocytes and macrophages activated caspase-8 and underwent apoptosis upon recombinant TRAIL treatment. TRAIL-Rs were up-regulated by anti-inflammatory agents (IL-10, glucocorticoids) and by natural compounds (Apigenin, Quercetin, Palmitate) and their treatment resulted in increased TRAIL-induced apoptosis. In mice, the only signaling TRAIL-R (DR5) was preferentially expressed by blood monocytes rather than neutrophils or lymphocytes. In both mice and humans, Tumor-Associated Macrophages (TAM) expressed functional TRAIL-R, while resident macrophages in normal tissues did not. As a proof of principle, we treated mice bearing a murine TRAIL-resistant fibrosarcoma with recombinant TRAIL. We observed significant decrease of circulating monocytes and infiltrating TAM, as well as reduced tumor growth and lower metastasis formation. Overall, these findings demonstrate that human and murine monocytes/macrophages are, among leukocytes, uniquely susceptible to TRAIL-mediated killing. This differential susceptibility to TRAIL could be exploited to selectively target macrophages in tumors

Differential Expressions of Adhesive Molecules and Proteases Define Mechanisms of Ovarian Tumor Cell Matrix Penetration/Invasion

Epithelial ovarian cancer is an aggressive and deadly disease and understanding its invasion mechanisms is critical for its treatment. We sought to study the penetration/invasion of ovarian tumor cells into extracellular matrices (ECMs) using a fibroblast-derived three-dimensional (3D) culture model and time-lapse and confocal imaging. Twelve ovarian tumor cells were evaluated and classified into distinct groups based on their ECM remodeling phenotypes; those that degraded the ECM (represented by OVCAR5 cells) and those that did not (represented by OVCAR10 cells). Cells exhibiting a distinct ECM modifying behavior were also segregated by epithelial- or mesenchymal-like phenotypes and uPA or MMP-2/MMP-9 expression. The cells, which presented epithelial-like phenotypes, penetrated the ECM using proteases and maintained intact cell-cell interactions, while cells exhibiting mesenchymal phenotypes modified the matrices via Rho-associated serine/threonine kinase (ROCK) in the absence of apparent cell-cell interactions. Overall, this study demonstrates that different mechanisms of modifying matrices by ovarian tumor cells may reflect heterogeneity among tumors and emphasize the need to systematically assess these mechanisms to better design effective therapies

A New Thermal Building in Gortyna (Creta): the So-Called “Terme Milano”

The paper deals with a new thermal building in Roman Gortyna (Creta), which was totally unknown before 2003 and then it has been excavated by the University of Milan since 2003 till now. The building is known as \u201cTerme Milano\u201d to distinguish it from other thermal buildings already discovered in Gortyna, and due to the fact that it has been successfully brought to light by the University of Milan, thanks also to SAIA (Italian School of Archaeology at Athens) and MAE (Ministero degli Affari Esteri) funding, and in association with the Greek Ephoria at Gortyna. The bath was built around 300 A.D., covering the northern side of a large square (m. 80 x 80), probably surrounded by colonnades, south of the so-called \u201cPretorio\u201d. The diggings have unearthed a bath with vivid mosaic decorations, beautifull polychrome marble floors and fragments of marble statues, probably representing young naked athletes, the gods Hygieia and Asklepios etc. (see also G. Bejor\u2019s abstract about the new Hyghieia head from Gortyna, presented to the Congress too). Our aim is to show how the large bath building developed through the ages until the end of the city monumental history during the VIIth century A.D., when some byzantine private houses were built on the ruins of the thermal complex, used as caves for building materials and for a little limekiln. We would also discuss how the building was inserted in the ancient city plan, how it functioned as there were other thermae in Roman Gortyna, and finally how its model distinguished from the ones of the other bath buildings in Gortyna

Gortina, "Terme Milano": ruinae et spolia : crollo e distruzione del complesso termale (VII sec. d.C.)

Sintesi delle fasi di abbandono, crollo e destrutturazione del complesso termale a sud del Pretorio a Gortina (noto come "Terme Milano") tra fine VI e VII sec. d.C

Gortys, “Terme Milano” : observations on the phases in the life of the building ten years on from the beginning of the excavation works

Since the year 2003 the University of Milan has been working in collaboration with the Scuola Archeologica Italiana in Athens and the local Eforia at Gortys on the excavation of a Roman bath complex that has recently been dubbed the \u201cTerme Milano\u201d. This study focuses on the main phases in the life of the building, in relation of course with the long and lively history of the city

Gortys, "Terme a sud del Pretorio" : observations on the main phases of the building ten years on from the beginning of the excavations

The paper deals with a new thermal building in Roman Gortyna (Creta), which was totally unknown before 2003 and then it has been excavated by the University of Milan since 2003 till now. The building is known as \u201cTerme Milano\u201d to distinguish it from other thermal buildings already discovered in Gortyna, and due to the fact that it has been successfully brought to light by the University of Milan, thanks also to SAIA (Italian School of Archaeology at Athens) and MAE (Ministero degli Affari Esteri) funding, and in association with the Greek Ephoria at Gortyna. The bath was built around 300 A.D., covering the northern side of a large square (m. 80 x 80), probably surrounded by colonnades, south of the so-called \u201cPretorio\u201d. The diggings have unearthed a bath with vivid mosaic decorations, beautifull polychrome marble floors and fragments of marble statues, probably representing young naked athletes, the gods Hygieia and Asklepios etc. (see also G. Bejor\u2019s abstract about the new Hyghieia head from Gortyna, presented to the Congress too). Our aim is to show how the large bath building developed through the ages until the end of the city monumental history during the VIIth century A.D., when some byzantine private houses were built on the ruins of the thermal complex, used as caves for building materials and for a little limekiln. We would also discuss how the building was inserted in the ancient city plan, how it functioned as there were other thermae in Roman Gortyna, and finally how its model distinguished from the ones of the other bath buildings in Gortyna