The oncogenic role of circPVT1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is mediated through the mutant p53/YAP/TEAD transcription-competent complex

Background: Circular RNAs are a class of endogenous RNAs with various functions in eukaryotic cells. Worthy of note, circular RNAs play a critical role in cancer. Currently, nothing is known about their role in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The identification of circular RNAs in HNSCC might become useful for diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in HNSCC. Results: Using samples from 115 HNSCC patients, we find that circPVT1 is over-expressed in tumors compared to matched non-tumoral tissues, with particular enrichment in patients with TP53 mutations. circPVT1 up-and down-regulation determine, respectively, an increase and a reduction of the malignant phenotype in HNSCC cell lines. We show that circPVT1 expression is transcriptionally enhanced by the mut-p53/YAP/TEAD complex. circPVT1 acts as an oncogene modulating the expression of miR-497-5p and genes involved in the control of cell proliferation. Conclusions: This study shows the oncogenic role of circPVT1 in HNSCC, extending current knowledge about the role of circular RNAs in cancer

The role of individual knowledge in functional olive oil preferences: Does self-coherence lead to different health attributes perception?

This study examined whether health cues influence the choices of olive oil consumers with different degrees of knowledge about the nutritional properties of olive oil. To this end, a direct survey on the consumption of healthy extra-virgin olive oil was implemented by examining the stated preferences of a sample of consumers. Two econometric analyses were carried out to identify the drivers of the consumption of olive oil with high polyphenol content. The logisticmodel was chosen as the most suitable method to answer the research questions. The results revealed a general consensus among consumers regarding the beneficial properties of olive oil consumption. Moreover, the findings show that different degrees of individual knowledge act as distinctive drivers in influencing the health perception of olive oil consumers. Finally, this study verified that, even for healthy foods, consumers' choices are strongly dependent on their own self-coherence. As a consequence, consumers' knowledge or beliefs that orientate their attitudes are influenced by different motivations and attributes

Advance in Citrus Postharvest Management: Diseases, Cold Storage and Quality Evaluation

Citrus is a fruit crop grown in different Mediterranean countries. Generally, harvested fruits are used for fresh consumption or are processed (mainly to produce juices). In this chapter, the authors discuss the state of art on citrus postharvest with a scientific approach, evaluating the current knowledge about the physiology and pathology of citrus fruits and the main causes of deterioration. In addition, the authors explain the main facilities for the cold storage of citrus fruit with particular reference to the rapid-cooling techniques and treatments needed prior to shipment of citrus fruits (refer shipment). In the last part of the chapter, the non-destructive methods for the quality evaluation are presented

Bilirubin is a specific marker for the diagnosis of acute appendicitis

Total serum bilirubin and other biochemical parameters have been associated with acute appendicitis, mainly in complicated cases. The present study aimed to evaluate the role of biochemical parameters in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, and to further investigate the role of bilirubin as a diagnostic marker irrespective of the severity of the pathology. All recorded cases of appendicectomies in a 1-year period in a single institution were reviewed. The median values of white cell count, C-reactive protein and total serum bilirubin on admission were associated with final histology, and their respective rates of abnormal and normal values were compared between patients who were proven to have negative histology and patients who were proven to have acute appendicitis. A total of 300 patients were studied. Median total serum bilirubin, white cell count and C-reactive protein on admission were significantly associated with acute appendicitis (P<0.001). Respective rates of normal and abnormal values were significantly associated with final histology (P<0.001). Total serum bilirubin demonstrated higher specificity (0.88) but lower sensitivity (0.26) and diagnostic accuracy (0.40) for acute appendicitis. In conclusion, total serum bilirubin on admission should be considered in the diagnostic workup to confirm rather than exclude appendicitis, without focusing on subgroups of specific severity of the disease. White cell count and C-reactive protein may also contribute to the diagnostic work-up, although with limited accuracy

Postharvest Technologies of Fresh Citrus Fruit: Advances and Recent Developments for the Loss Reduction during Handling and Storage

Citrus spp. are spread mainly in the Mediterranean basin and represent the largest fruit source for human consumption. Postharvest losses, mainly due to diseases and metabolic disorders of fruits, can cause severe wastage, reaching 30 to 50% of the total production. Preserving quality and extending shelf life are essential objectives for postharvest technological innovation, determined by the proper handling, treatment, storage and transport of harvested produce. Moreover, the application of novel sustainable strategies is critical for the reduction of synthetic fungicide residues on fruit surfaces and the impact on the environment caused by waste disposal of fungicides. In this article, the current knowledge about the safest and more sustainable strategies, as well as advanced postharvest handling and storage technologies, will be critically reviewed

La riparazione dell’ernia ombelicale nella donna in postmenopausa

Gli Autori riportano la loro esperienza sull’impiego della protesi dual-mesh in PTFEe per il trattamento delle ernie ombelicali nelle donne in postmenopausa. La riparazione protesica vs l’intervento classico di Mayo trova giustificazione nella maggior parte dei casi per i deficit biostrutturali delle strutture muscolo-fasciali delle donne in menopausa, deficit legati alla riduzione della funzione ovarica e aggravati da pregresse gravidanze. Una corretta valutazione del trofismo delle strutture della parete addominale e delle dimensioni delle ernie è comunque indispensabile nel porre indicazione alla chirurgia protesica. Nella nostra casistica la morbilità riferita a complicanze precoci è assolutamente trascurabile. A tutt’oggi, sebbene il follow-up sia ancora piuttosto breve, non abbiamo riscontrato casi di recidiva

Recensioni

Giuseppe Marchiori - Aristide Gabelli, L’uomo e le scienze morali. Una recensione Daniele Morselli - Virkkunen, J. and Shelley Newnham, D., The Change Laboratory. A tool for Collaborative Development of Work and EducationGabriella Vitale - Tuomi-Gröhn e Yrjö Engeström, Tra scuola e lavoro: Studi sul transfer e attraversamento di confiniAndrea Strano - Martha Nussbaum, Creare capacità. Liberarsi dalla dittatura del PilNadia Dario - Evan Thompson, Mind in life: Biology, phenomenology, and the science of min

Recensioni

Giuseppe Marchiori - Aristide Gabelli, L’uomo e le scienze morali. Una recensione  Daniele Morselli - Virkkunen, J. and Shelley Newnham, D., The Change Laboratory. A tool for Collaborative Development of Work and Education Gabriella Vitale - Tuomi-Gröhn e Yrjö Engeström, Tra scuola e lavoro: Studi sul transfer e attraversamento di confini Andrea Strano - Martha Nussbaum, Creare capacità. Liberarsi dalla dittatura del Pil Nadia Dario - Evan Thompson, Mind in life: Biology, phenomenology, and the science of min

A Physical-Based Observer for Vehicle State Estimation and Road Condition Monitoring

The performance of the vehicle's active safety systems depends on accurate knowledge of the vehicle state, and the frictional forces resulting from tyre contact and the road surface. This paper aims to estimate the vehicle states and tyre-road coefficient of friction through and Extended Kalman Filter (EKF), integrated with the Double-Track model and the Pacejka Magic Formula that allows knowledge of the lateral force of the tyre. Besides, this approach can estimate the overall coefficient of lateral friction on each side of the vehicle, left and right respectively. Simulations based on a reference vehicle model are performed on different road surfaces and driving manoeuvres to verify the effectiveness of the proposed estimation method, in order to obtain good performance from different vehicle control systems