La laurea magistrale in Storia dell’Arte (LM-89): un percorso abilitante all’insegnamento nella scuola (classe di concorso A-54 Storia dell’Arte)?

L’insegnamento della Storia dell’Arte nella scuola media secondaria, introdotto nel 1923 dalla riforma Gentile, vanta una tradizione illustre e corrisponde ai principi della Costituzione sulla tutela dell’ambiente e sulla relazione tra i cittadini e il patrimonio storico e artistico. Il contributo formula alcune considerazioni che tengono conto del vivace dibattito attualmente in corso e dei due importanti documenti prodotti dal CUN in merito al progetto ministeriale sulla possibile istituzione di un percorso universitario abilitante all’insegnamento della materia. Ai fini di un miglioramento della qualità dei percorsi educativi, si propone un innalzamento dei CFU di Storia dell’Arte, necessari per l’accesso alla classe di concorso in Storia dell’Arte (A-54), per la quale il titolo di laurea della LM-89 “Storia dell’Arte” risulta oggi il percorso più idoneo. Si sottolinea l’importanza della didattica disciplinare e delle esperienze di tirocinio.The teaching of the History of Art in the Italian secondary school, introduced in 1923 by Gentile reform, boasts an illustrious tradition and corresponds to the principles of the Italian Constitution on enviromental protection and the relationship between citizens and the historical and artistic heritage. The essay formulates some considerations that take into account the lively debate currently underway and the two important documents produced by the CUN regarding the ministerial project on the possible establishment of a university course enabling the teaching of the matter. For the purpose of improving the quality of educational pathways, it is proposed to raise the CFU in History of Art, necessary for access to the competition class in History of Art (A-54), for which the title degree of the LM-89 "History of Art" is today the most suitable path. The importance of disciplinary teaching and internship experiences is emphasized

Aging Skin: Nourishing from the Inside Out, Effects of Good Versus Poor Nitrogen Intake on Skin Health and Healing

Skin is the outermost defense organ which protects us from the environment, constituting around 8 % of an adult’s body weight. Healthy skin contains one-eighth of the body’s total proteins. The balance of turnover and synthesis of skin proteins is primarily dependent on the availability of sufficient nitrogen-containing substrates, namely, amino acids, essential for protein metabolism in any other tissue and body organs. The turnover of skin proteins has been shown to be rapid, and the mobilization of amino acids at the expense of skin proteins is relevant in experimental models of protein malnutrition. As a result, alterations in nutritional status should be suspected, diagnosed, and eventually treated for any skin lesions. Protein malnutrition has a dramatic prevalence in patients aged >70 or more, independent of the reason for hospitalization. The quality of nutrition and content of essential amino acids are strictly connected to skin health and integrity of its protein components. Collagen fiber deposition is highly and rapidly influenced by alterations in the essential to nonessential amino acid ratios. The most relevant nutritional factor of skin health is the prevalence of essential amino acids

Homocysteinylated Albumin Promotes Increased Monocyte-Endothelial Cell Adhesion and Up-Regulation of MCP1, Hsp60 and ADAM17

RATIONALE:The cardiovascular risk factor homocysteine is mainly bound to proteins in human plasma, and it has been hypothesized that homocysteinylated proteins are important mediators of the toxic effects of hyperhomocysteinemia. It has been recently demonstrated that homocysteinylated proteins are elevated in hemodialysis patients, a high cardiovascular risk population, and that homocysteinylated albumin shows altered properties. OBJECTIVE:Aim of this work was to investigate the effects of homocysteinylated albumin - the circulating form of this amino acid, utilized at the concentration present in uremia - on monocyte adhesion to a human endothelial cell culture monolayer and the relevant molecular changes induced at both cell levels. METHODS AND RESULTS:Treated endothelial cells showed a significant increase in monocyte adhesion. Endothelial cells showed after treatment a significant, specific and time-dependent increase in ICAM1 and VCAM1. Expression profiling and real time PCR, as well as protein analysis, showed an increase in the expression of genes encoding for chemokines/cytokines regulating the adhesion process and mediators of vascular remodeling (ADAM17, MCP1, and Hsp60). The mature form of ADAM17 was also increased as well as Tnf-α released in the cell medium. At monocyte level, treatment induced up-regulation of ICAM1, MCP1 and its receptor CCR2. CONCLUSIONS:Treatment with homocysteinylated albumin specifically increases monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells through up-regulation of effectors involved in vascular remodeling