Release of Soluble Ligands for the Activating NKG2D Receptor: One More Immune Evasion Strategy Evolved by HIV-1?

ncreasing lines of evidence indicate that NKG2D, an activating receptor of natural killer (NK) and CD8(+) T cells, plays an important role in immune responses against HIV-1. Through its ability to recognize a diverse array of ligands (NKG2DLs) induced by cell 'stress' such as viral infection, NKG2D delivers activating and co-stimulatory signals resulting in cytotoxicity and release of cytokines. Therefore, HIV-1 and other viruses have evolved clever mechanisms to counteract NKG2D-dependent immune responses. While, on one hand, the HIV-1 Vpr protein up-regulates NKG2DLs expression by activating the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway, other viral proteins (Nef and Vif) have developed the capacity to reduce NKG2DLs expression levels. In addition, recent evidences suggest that HIV-1-infected CD4(+) T cells may release NKG2DLs, particularly MICA, in soluble form, a phenomenon that has the potential to down-modulate NKG2D on circulating lymphocytes and allow evasion of NKG2D-mediated immune responses. Indeed, despite controversial, lower NKG2D expression was found on both NK and CD8(+) T cells in HIV-1-infected patients. This review discusses recent advances in the understanding of how HIV-1 affects the NKG2D/NKG2DLs system, with a special focus on virus-induced release of soluble NKG2DLs and its functional implications for the immune surveillance of the infected host

Dealing with the aftermath of mass disasters. A field study on the application of EMDR integrative group treatment protocol with child survivors of the 2016 Italy earthquakes

This study explored the effects of the EMDR Integrative Group Treatment Protocol (EMDR-IGTP) on child survivors of the earthquakes that struck Umbria, a region of central Italy, on August 24th and on October 26th 2016. Three hundred and thirty-two children from the town of Norcia and nearby severely disrupted villages received 3 cycles of EMDR-IGTP. The Emotion Thermometers (ET-5) and the Children’s Revised Impact of Event Scale (CRIES-13) were administered before (T0) and about 1 week after the conclusion of the third cycle (T3) of EMDR-IGTP. At T3, older children showed a reduction of distress and anger, whereas younger children reported an increase on these domains; moreover, older children reported a greater reduction of anxiety than younger ones. A greater reduction of distress, anxiety, and need for help was evidenced in females, whereas a greater improvement in depressive symptoms was evidenced in males. The effects of the EMDR-IGTP treatment on post-traumatic symptoms were particularly evident in older children, compared to younger ones, and marginally greater in females than in males; moreover, a greater improvement was found in children who had received a timelier intervention, than in those who received delayed treatment. These results provide further evidence for the utility of EMDR-IGTP in dealing with the extensive need for mental health services in mass disaster contexts. Also, these data highlight the importance of providing EMDR-IGTP in the immediate aftermath of a natural disaster, to contribute significantly in restoring adaptive psychological functioning in children, especially in older ones

Evolutionary epigenetics of modern human populations

Epigenetic variability is a new mechanism for the study of human microevolution, because it creates both phenotypic diversity within an individual and within population. This mechanism constitutes an important reservoir for adaptation in response to new stimuli and recent studies have demonstrated that selective pressures shape not only the genetic code but also DNA methylation profiles. The aim of this thesis is the study of the role of DNA methylation changes in human adaptive processes, considering the Italian peninsula and macro-geographical areas. A whole-genome analysis of DNA methylation profile across the Italian penisula identified some genes whose methylation levels differ between individuals of different Italian districts (South, Centre and North of Italy). These genes are involved in nitrogen compound metabolism and genes involved in pathogens response. Considering individuals with different macro-geographical origins (individuals of Asians, European and African ancestry) more significant DMRs (differentially methylated regions) were identified and are located in genes involved in glucoronidation, in immune response as well as in cell comunication processes. A "profile" of each ancestry (African, Asian and European) was described. Moreover a deepen analysis of three candidate genes (KRTCAP3, MAD1L and BRSK2) in a cohort of individuals of different countries (Morocco, Nigeria, China and Philippines) living in Bologna, was performed in order to explore genetic and epigenetic diversity. Moreover this thesis have paved the way for the application of DNA methylation for the study of hystorical remains and in particular for the age-estimation of individuals starting from biological samples (such as teeth or blood). Noteworthy, a mathematical model that considered methylation values of DNA extracted from cementum and pulp of living individuals can estimate chronological age with high accuracy (median absolute difference between age estimated from DNA methylation and chronological age was 1.2 years)

Material particulado y compuestos orgánicos volátiles en aire extramuros del partido de Lomas de Zamora, provincia de Buenos Aires

Se presentan las concentraciones de compuestos orgánicos volátiles (COVs) y del material particulado en suspensión (MP10 y MP2,5) en aire extramuros del partido de Lomas de Zamora, además del grado de afectación a nivel del sistema respiratorio en chicos con edades entre 12 y 17 años. La metodología aplicada consiste en el relevamiento de material particulado (MP10 y MP2,5) utilizando un muestreador de bajo caudal MiniVol TAS, y de COVs mediante monitoreo pasivo (3M 3500). Las espirometrías se realizaron mediante un espirómetro portátil y metodología ATS (American Thoracic Society). Los niveles de COVs fueron determinados por cromatografía gaseosa /FID, comprendiendo n-alcanos, cicloalcanos, aromáticos, clorados, terpenoides y cetonas. En cuanto a los niveles de material particulado (medianas expresadas en μg m-3), se obtuvieron MP2,5: 17.6 y MP10: 39,5 para La Facultad de Ingeniería UNLZ (muestreos 2015-2016) y MP2,5: 11,7 y MP10: 54,4 (solo 2016) para la Escuela Tecnológica. Respecto a los valores obtenidos en COVs, las muestras (2014-2016) de la Facultad de Ingeniería se encuentran en un rango comprendido entre 1,2 y 4,7 μg m-3 para las distintas familias y de 20 μg m-3 en COVs totales. Los valores correspondientes al Parque industrial (Almirante Brown) son entre 3,6 y 7,8 veces superiores, con 125 μg m-3 para COVs totales, mientras que los valores hallados para la escuela presentan valores intermedios, más cercanos a los de Facultad de Ingeniería. Entre los COVs detectados, se destacan benceno, tolueno y xilenos, además de alcanos con cadenas de carbono entre 7 y 12 átomos de carbono y compuestos clorados. Asimismo fueron relevados 98 cuestionarios epidemiológicos y realizadas 94 espirometrías a alumnos de 1ro a 3er año (12 y 15 años) y 4 a docentes del primer ciclo de secundaria básica de la Escuela Tecnológica Preuniversitaria “Ing. Carlos E. Giúdici”

Psychological Exhaustion and Problematic Use of Drugs in The Nursing Team in A Hospital Environment

Objective: The objective of this study was to verify the relationship between problematic drug use and the occurrence of Burnout Syndrome among nursing professionals in a hospital environment. Methods: This is a study with a quantitative and exploratory approach. 416 professionals participated in the research. The data collection instrument was Sociodemographic and professional information; Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement  Screening Test; Alcohol Use DisordersIdentification Test - Consumption; Maslach Burnout Inventory. The level of significance (p value) was set at 0.05. Results: The consumption of tobacco and alcohol among workers was evidenced, being common to the practice of using alcohol in binge. There was a positive correlation between the use of alcohol and the occurrence of depersonalization and between the use of sedatives and depersonalization. Conclusion: It is essential that there are actions to minimize the occurrence of mental disorders in nursing workers.&nbsp

Material particulado y compuestos orgánicos volátiles en aire extramuros del partido de Lomas de Zamora, provincia de Buenos Aires: efectos asociados sobre la salud juvenil

Se presentan las concentraciones de compuestos orgánicos volátiles (COVs) y de material particulado en suspensión (MP10 y MP2,5) en aire extramuros en Lomas de Zamora, además de su incidencia en el sistema respiratorio en chicos con edades entre 12 y 17 años. Fue relevado MP10 y MP2,5 utilizando un muestreador de bajo caudal MiniVol TAS, y COVs mediante monitoreo pasivo (3M 3500). Las espirometrías se relevaron con un espirómetro portátil y metodología ATS. Los COVs fueron determinados por cromatografía gaseosa/FID. Niveles de material particulado (medianas en μg m-3), MP2,5: 17.6 y MP10: 39,5 para Facultad de Ingeniería UNLZ (FI), y MP2,5: 11,7 y MP10: 54,4 para Escuela Tecnológica (ET). Las muestras de COVs para FI se encuentran entre 1,2 y 4,7 μg m-3 para las distintas familias y de 20 μg m-3 en COVs totales. Para el Parque industrial se observan valores entre 3,6 y 7,8 veces superiores (125 μg m-3 para COVs totales), y para ET los valores son intermedios. Entre los COVs se destacan benceno, tolueno y xilenos, alcanos (C7-C12) y compuestos clorados. Se realizaron 98 cuestionarios epidemiológicos y 94 espirometrías en los alumnos y docentes de la ET

Association between type 1 diabetes and female sexual dysfunction

Background: This study aims to evaluate: 1) the prevalence of Female Sexual Dysfunction (FSD) in women affected by type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and the control group; 2) the correlation between duration of DM, HbA1C levels and sexual life quality; 3) the relationship between different methods of insulin administration and sexual life quality; 4) the correlation between FSD and diabetes complications. Methods: We selected 33 women with type 1 DM and 39 healthy women as controls. Each participant underwent a detailed medical history and physical examination and completed the 6-item Female Sexual Function Index questionnaire (FSFI-6). In patients affected by type 1 DM, the different methods of insulin administration (Multi Drug Injection - MDI or Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion - CSII) and the presence of DM complications were also investigated. Results: The prevalence of FSD (total score≤19) was significantly higher in the type 1 DM group than in the control group (12/33, 36.4% and 2/39, 5.2%, respectively; p =0.010). No statistically significant differences were found regarding FSD according to the presence of complications, method of insulin administration or previous pregnancies. Conclusions: This study underlined that FSD is higher in women affected by type 1 DM than in healthy controls. This could be due to the diabetic neuropathy/angiopathy and the type of insulin administration. Therefore, it is important to investigate FSD in diabetic women, as well as erectile dysfunction in diabetic men

Epigenetic Variability across Human Populations: A Focus on DNA Methylation Profiles of the KRTCAP3, MAD1L1 and BRSK2 Genes

Natural epigenetic diversity has been suggested as a key mechanism in microevolutionary processes due to its capability to create phenotypic variability within individuals and populations. It constitutes an important reservoir of variation potentially useful for rapid adaptation in response to environmental stimuli. The analysis of population epigenetic structure represents a possible tool to study human adaptation and to identify external factors that are able to naturally shape human DNA methylation variability. The aim of this study is to investigate the dynamics that create epigenetic diversity between and within different human groups. To this end, we first used publicly available epigenome-wide data to explore population-specific DNA methylation changes that occur at macro-geographic scales. Results from this analysis suggest that nutrients, UVA exposure and pathogens load might represent the main environmental factors able to shape DNA methylation profiles. Then, we evaluated DNA methylation of candidate genes (KRTCAP3, MAD1L1, and BRSK2), emerged from the previous analysis, in individuals belonging to different populations from Morocco, Nigeria, Philippines, China, and Italy, but living in the same Italian city. DNA methylation of the BRSK2 gene is significantly different between Moroccans and Nigerians (pairwise t-test: CpG 6 P-value = 5.2*10 (-) (3); CpG 9 P-value = 2.6*10 (-) (3); CpG 10 P-value = 3.1*10 (-) (3); CpG 11 P-value = 2.8*10 (-) (3)). Comprehensively, these results suggest that DNA methylation diversity is a source of variability in human groups at macro and microgeographical scales and that population demographic and adaptive histories, as well as the individual ancestry, actually influence DNA methylation profiles

Alianças estratégicas como ferramenta para pequenos negócios (ou para micro e pequenas empresas)

A integração dos mercados é uma realidade cada vez mais evidente. As empresas isoladas enfrentam dificuldades no mercado. As empresas buscam novos caminhos para enfrentar estas situações e cenários

The nucleolar size is associated to the methylation status of ribosomal DNA in breast carcinomas.

BACKGROUND: There is a body of evidence that shows a link between tumorigenesis and ribosome biogenesis. The precursor of mature 18S, 28S and 5.8S ribosomal RNAs is transcribed from the ribosomal DNA gene (rDNA), which exists as 300-400 copies in the human diploid genome. Approximately one half of these copies are epigenetically silenced, but the exact role of epigenetic regulation on ribosome biogenesis is not completely understood. In this study we analyzed the methylation profiles of the rDNA promoter and of the 5' regions of 18S and 28S in breast cancer. METHODS: We analyzed rDNA methylation in 68 breast cancer tissues of which the normal counterpart was partially available (45/68 samples) using the MassARRAY EpiTYPER assay, a sensitive and quantitative method with single base resolution. RESULTS: We found that rDNA locus tended to be hypermethylated in tumor compared to matched normal breast tissues and that the DNA methylation level of several CpG units within the rDNA locus was associated to nuclear grade and to nucleolar size of tumor tissues. In addition we identified a subgroup of samples in which large nucleoli were associated with very limited or absent rDNA hypermethylation in tumor respect to matched normal tissue. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, we suggest that rDNA is an important target of epigenetic regulation in breast tumors and that rDNA methylation level is associated to nucleolar size