68 research outputs found
Mellin amplitudes for 1d CFT
We define a Mellin amplitude for CFT1 four-point functions. Its analytical properties are inferred from physical requirements on the correlator. We discuss the analytic continuation that is necessary for a fully nonperturbative definition of the Mellin transform. The resulting bounded, meromorphic function of a single complex variable is used to derive an infinite set of nonperturbative sum rules for CFT data of exchanged operators, which we test on known examples. We then consider the perturbative setup produced by quartic interactions with an arbitrary number of derivatives in a bulk AdS2 field theory. With our formalism, we obtain a closed-form expression for the Mellin transform of tree-level contact interactions and for the first correction to the scaling dimension of “two-particle” operators exchanged in the generalized free field theory correlator
Dose-response relationship between cigarette smoking and site-specific cancer risk : protocol for a systematic review with an original design combining umbrella and traditional reviews
Introduction Only a limited number of meta-analyses providing risk curve functions of dose-response relationships between various smoking-related variables and cancer-specific risk are available. Methods and analysis To identify all relevant original publications on the issue, we will conduct a series of comprehensive systematic reviews based on three subsequent literature searches: (1) an umbrella review, to identify meta-analyses, pooled analyses and systematic reviews published before 28 April 2017 on the association between cigarette smoking and the risk of 28 (namely all) malignant neoplasms; (2) for each cancer site, an updated review of original publications on the association between cigarette smoking and cancer risk, starting from the last available comprehensive review identified through the umbrella review; and (3) a review of all original articles on the association between cigarette smoking and site-specific cancer risk included in the publications identified through the umbrella review and the updated reviews. The primary outcomes of interest will be (1) the excess incidence/mortality of various cancers for smokers compared with never smokers; and (2) the dose-response curves describing the association between smoking intensity, duration and time since stopping and incidence/mortality for various cancers. For each cancer site, we will perform a meta-analysis by pooling study-specific estimates for smoking status. We will also estimate the dose-response curves for other smoking-related variables through random-effects meta-regression models based on a non-linear dose-response relationship framework. Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval is not required for this study. Main results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and will also be included in a publicly available website. We will provide therefore the most complete and updated estimates on the association between various measures of cigarette smoking and site-specific cancer risk. This will allow us to obtain precise estimates on the cancer burden attributable to cigarette smoking. Trial registration number This protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42017063991)
The bacterial lysate Lantigen B reduces the number of acute episodes in patients with recurrent infections of the respiratory tract: the results of a double blind, placebo controlled, multicenter clinical trial
Cigarette Smoke Affects Keratinocytes SRB1 Expression and Localization via H2O2 Production and HNE Protein Adducts Formation
Scavenger Receptor B1 (SR-B1), also known as HDL receptor, is involved in cellular cholesterol uptake. Stratum corneum (SC), the outermost layer of the skin, is composed of more than 25% cholesterol. Several reports support the view that alteration of SC lipid composition may be the cause of impaired barrier function which gives rise to several skin diseases. For this reason the regulation of the genes involved in cholesterol uptake is of extreme significance for skin health. Being the first shield against external insults, the skin is exposed to several noxious substances and among these is cigarette smoke (CS), which has been recently associated with various skin pathologies. In this study we first have shown the presence of SR-B1 in murine and human skin tissue and then by using immunoblotting, immunoprecipitation, RT-PCR, and confocal microscopy we have demonstrated the translocation and the subsequent lost of SR-B1 in human keratinocytes (cell culture model) after CS exposure is driven by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) that derives not only from the CS gas phase but mainly from the activation of cellular NADPH oxidase (NOX). This effect was reversed when the cells were pretreated with NOX inhibitors or catalase. Furthermore, CS caused the formation of SR-B1-aldheydes adducts (acrolein and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal) and the increase of its ubiquitination, which could be one of the causes of SR-B1 loss. In conclusion, exposure to CS, through the production of H2O2, induced post-translational modifications of SR-B1 with the consequence lost of the receptor and this may contribute to the skin physiology alteration as a consequence of the variation of cholesterol uptake
A survey of clinical features of allergic rhinitis in adults
Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) has high prevalence and substantial socio-economic burden.
Material/Methods: The study included 35 Italian Centers recruiting an overall number of 3383 adult patients with rhinitis (48% males, 52% females, mean age 29.1, range 18\u201345 years). For each patient, the attending physician had to fill in a standardized questionnaire, covering, in particular, some issues such as the ARIA classification of allergic rhinitis (AR), the results of skin prick test (SPT), the kind of treatment, the response to treatment, and the satisfaction with treatment.
Results: Out of the 3383 patients with rhinitis, 2788 (82.4%) had AR: 311 (11.5%) had a mild intermittent, 229 (8.8%) a mild persistent, 636 (23.5%) a moderate-severe intermittent, and 1518 (56.1%) a moderate-severe persistent form. The most frequently used drugs were oral antihistamines (77.1%) and topical corticosteroids (60.8%). The response to treatment was judged as excellent in 12.2%, good in 41.3%, fair in 31.2%, poor in 14.5%, and very bad in 0.8% of subjects. The rate of treatment dissatisfaction was significantly higher in patients with moderate-to-severe AR than in patients with mild AR (p<0.0001). Indication to allergen immunotherapy (AIT) was significantly more frequent (p<0.01) in patients with severe AR than with mild AR. .
Conclusions: These fndings confirm the appropriateness of ARIA guidelines in classifying the AR patients and the association of severe symptoms with unsuccessful drug treatment. The optimal targeting of patients to be treated with AIT needs to be reassessed
Prequel. Il gusto della riscrittura, le riscritture del gusto
Questo volume si contraddistingue per la creativit\ue0 che anima giovani e aspiranti studiosi; conserva un marcato carattere laboratoriale in relazione all\u2019antropologia del cibo e della nutrizione. Si tratta di esperimenti originali sul cibo, sia di campo che di scrittura, elaborati tramite la raccolta di storie di vita, una osservazione ravvicinata, una fisica e concreta frequentazione dei luoghi e delle persone. Medesimi i temi di base che scatenano attrazione, nella Pop Art come in questi scritti: cibo e bevande, sigarette e altri beni di consumo; le case o i caff\ue8 come luoghi di commensalit\ue0 o profonda solitudine; le strade e le sale da ballo; le automobili e la tecnologia; i simboli nazionalistici.
L\u2019obiettivo \ue8 di mettere a disposizione di un pubblico ampio gli studi etnografici sul cibo del panorama bolognese. Le battaglie su cosa \ue8 sano, puro, tipico, tradizionale \u2013 nelle superurbane Londra e Tokyo, in Africa al mercato del pesce o sotto le brande dei dormitori universitari, nei men\uf9 scolastici in Chaco o nella ribollente sensualit\ue0 delle cuoche di Bahia \u2013 sono filtrate \u201cattraverso le lenti del cibo\u201d. In questo volume-banchetto il lettore scoprir\ue0 nervi concettuali potenti della disciplina: il gusto come prodotto bio-culturale e in relazione ai concetti nutrizionali occidentali; il cibo come luogo di mescolanza di categorie dietetiche e culturali; il meccanismo della distinzione per la costruzione/invenzione della nazione; i gusti (tecnicamente) spartiti fra lusso e necessit\ue0; il dono e la reinterpretazione dei prodotti di scarto; la fortissima componente estetica del cibo e la relazione fra occhi e palato
Il patriarcato secondo Wodetu. Riflessioni etnografiche su un concetto sentimentale
L'articolo si concentra su un termine, patriarcato, che nelle parole di giornalisti, medici, attivisti per i diritti umani e addirittura antropologi viene direttamente o indirettamente utilizzato come sinonimo volgare per indicare una generica subordinazione delle donne. Illustra come tale concetto continui a soggiornare, in termini pi\uf9 di intuizione prelogica che di dato razionale, fra le categorie degli analisti e a orientare certe letture dell\u2019oppressione femminile. A tale modalit\ue0 di rappresentazione, radicata nel senso comune e in certa accademia, verr\ue0 affiancata la percezione che di se stessi forniscono alcuni soggetti agenti in una zona centro-meridionale dell\u2019Etiopia dove ho condotto una ricerca etnografica fra 2004 e 2009, per un totale di dodici mesi, oscillando teoricamente fra i contenitori \u201cantropologia politica\u201d e \u201cstudi di genere\u201d, e avendo intrattenuto un rapporto intenso e privilegiato con quindici donne di una comunit\ue0 di villaggio. Metteremo a confronto le immagini del potere femminile (a) quando attribuite dall\u2019esterno, frutto di testi che le interpretano e narrano ad uso e consumo di un pubblico occidentale e (b) come rilevate dai protagonisti della storia, reali e personalmente incontrati, cio\ue8 da un punto di vista indigeno
Ostilit\ue0 e segreti. Ambientarsi fra donne in zona Hadiya (Etiopia centro-meridionale)
Il saggio prende in esame i precisi stili comunicativi e relazionali che, in una comunit\ue0 di villaggio della zona Hadiya (Etiopia), modellano le tappe della vita femminile. La maturazione come donne e come madri \ue8 un percorso che prevede passaggi pi\uf9 o meno ritualizzati, pericoli e crisi che le donne apprendono a gestire per via di sfide, di accettazioni forzate o di autodisciplina emotiva. Sono inattesi valori "locali" ad informare l'agire delle donne: non la silenziosit\ue0 o la solidariet\ue0, ma la competizione e la sfida aperta, talvolta programmata. Sono le donne, con il loro operato, i loro commenti e le loro risoluzioni quotidiane, a incorporare demarcazioni e contraddizioni di genere. Le tensioni sociali vengono espresse attraverso idiomi e pratiche minime: in termini di distribuzione di cibo fra sessi, di rivendicazioni di status, di lotte domestiche fra uomini e donne per la spartizione di risorse e autonomia
Il padrone ha preso il suo kosso: una ricetta etiope per la cottura in gravidanza
Mentre Adanech mi mostra la sua scorta di kosso (Hagenia abyssinica) \u2013 solo i fiori femminili, essiccati e pestati, entrano nell\u2019infuso - ripete che non ha paura del dolore. Come altre donne in zona Hadiya, nonostante la pianta sia stata bandita per la sua tossicit\ue0 dalle politiche di salute pubblica, ne usa dosi sapienti per purgarsi in tempi ordinari e rafforzarsi in gravidanza. Cos\uec, prosciugando il corpo, eliminando le eccedenze e attraverso una disciplina dello stomaco che scalda e purifica, si producono secondo ricette locali bambini ben formati e donne di grande valore. Ed \ue8 attraverso la manipolazione dei corpi che queste testimoni ci offrono un\u2019interpretazione inedita del concetto di persona e dei nessi fra cibo e potere
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