University of Bari Aldo Moro
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Isolation of endothelial progenitor cells from human adipose tissue
No full textBackground: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in angiogenic responses in multiple tissues and mediate a coordinate augmentation of the capillary network as adipose tissue (AT) expands in response to positive energy balance. However, the isolation and culture of EPCs from human AT has proven difficult so far. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of EPCs from human AT (AT-EPCs). Methods: Omental and subcutaneous AT specimens (approximately 1-2 g) were obtained during abdominal surgery. Following AT digestion with collagenase, both the filtered (SVF-I) and unfiltered (SVF-II) stromal vascular fractions (SVF) of AT were used. Expression of endothelial markers, such as CD31 and VE-Cadherin, was analyzed by using flow cytometry. Both SVF-I and SVF-II fractions were used for magnetic-based enrichment of endothelial cells using anti-human CD31 beads. Immunofluorescence staining, immunoblotting, and quantitative real-time PCR were performed to analyze expression of endothelial markers. Functional assays, including matrigel-based capillary-like tube formation assay and acetylated LDL uptake assays, were also performed. Results: CD31 and VE-Cadherin were more expressed in SVF-II than SVF-I. CD31+ cells from SVF-II exhibited an endothelial-like cobblestone morphology. The CD31+ fraction also expressed Von Willebrand Factor (vWF) and VE-Cadherin. High mRNA levels of E-selectin, e-NOS, VEGFR, and CD34 were found in CD31+ cells, and E-selectin and e-NOS proteins were readily detectable. In addition, CD31+ cells were able to form tubes and incorporate acetylated LDL in vitro. Conclusions: Large amounts of AT-EPCs with distinct functional properties can be isolated from omental and subcutaneous adipose tissue
La scelta del nome Augusto. Qualche ulteriore considerazione
No full textThe theme of “foundation” runs through political debate and propaganda throughout the 1st century BCE. This contribution revisits the issue of the attribution of the name Augustus to Octavian in January 27 BCE, focusing on reasons put forward by Munatius Plancus, in support of the name Augustus rather than Romulus. Particular attention is given to a key detail: the adjective amplius, which along with novum, characterizes the name Augustus
CRISPR/CAS9 mediated knockout of the pks1 gene in the chloromonilicin biosynthetic gene cluster of the brown rot fungus Monilinia fructicola
No full textMonilinia fructicola is a major pathogen responsible for brown rot leading to blossom and twig blight, as well as pre- and post-harvest fruit rot that cause heavy yield losses, especially on stone fruit. Analysis of the M. fructicola genome sequence (Genbank accession number GCA_008692225.1) revealed a type I polyketide synthase gene cluster, named BGC-10, putatively involved in chloromonilicin biosynthesis. This gene cluster, ∼55 kb in length, consists of twenty-four genes, including one polyketide synthase (pks1), one flavin-dependent halogenase, two N-acetyltransferases and three methyltransferases, six oxidoreduction-related genes, one scytalone dehydratase and two NAD-dependent epimerases, one lactamase-like protein gene, two transcription factors, and three transporter protein genes. Chloromonilicin has been described as a nonphytotoxic compound showing a strong antimicrobial activity against bacteria, yeasts, and plant pathogenic fungi. To investigate the function of BGC-10, a simple and efficient method for targeted gene disruption was performed by CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complex coupled with polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated transformation to the reference strain Mfrc123 of M. fructicola. Mutants targeting the pks1 gene were characterized by sequence analysis at the target cleavage, digital droplet PCR assays to determine the copy number of hygromycin insertion and gene expression analysis. Phenotypic characterization of the mutants revealed no statistical differences between mutants and the wild-type strain in conidia production and germination rate, colony growth, and virulence on artificially inoculated peach fruits. Moreover, metabolomic analysis using UHPLC-MS/MS showed that production of chloromonilicin and other metabolites putatively associated with BGC-10 (i.e., chloromonilinic acid A and B, and 4-chloropinselin) significantly increased in wild-type strains co-cultured with Penicillium expansum compared with monoculture and was very low after inoculation on fruits. Mutants did not produce detectable amounts of these metabolites in all tested growing conditions
A Preliminary Study to Optimize the Managing of Waste and By-Products in a Small-Scale Olive Mill
No full textOlive oil extraction process produce huge amount of by-products and waste. Furthermore, these are produced in a short period of time, not justifying the investment in expensive systems to be created for their disposal, especially in small/medium sized mills. Particularly, olive mill generates two types of waste. One is a solid waste called pomace, while the second one is wastewater. Olive oil wastes are considered highly pollutant and phytotoxic due to the presence of natural compounds like phenols. An improper disposal of wastewater on soil could results in a decreasing of water retention and infiltration rate, and could affect soil acidity and salinity. As for the pomace, this represents a by-product that can be reused as a raw material in a pomace factory. This depends greatly on the way in which the solid-liquid separation is carried out. Specifically, a three-phase decanter centrifuge produces a drier pomace than that obtained with a two-phase centrifuge. In the latter case, the pomace needs to be dried before sending it to the pomace factory. In this study, a preliminary feasibility was conducted to optimize the reuse of the by-products of a small/medium sized oil mill equipped with two extraction lines in parallel: one with a two-phase decanter, one with a three-phase decanter. The possibility of introducing a machine for concentrating the pomace leaving the two-phase process and a new line for wastewaters management has been evaluated. This relatively cheap solution would allow the entire dry pomace to be sent to a pomace factory and the wastewater, mixed to light solids, to a biogas plant as a new product identified as biphasic pomace. If the material balances are appropriately completed, this solution would make it possible to drastically reduce the waste coming out of a small/medium mill
Measuring the impact of hospitalization for infectious diseases on the quality of life of older patients in four European countries: the AEQUI longitudinal matched cohort study (2020–2023)
No full textObjectives: To evaluate the impact of hospitalization for infectious diseases on the Health-Related Quality of life (HRQOL), multidimensional frailty, and functioning of older patients, we conducted a longitudinal matched cohort study in four European countries. Methods: HRQOL, frailty, and functioning were assessed using validated questionnaires at inclusion, at discharge, and up to 6 months later in patients aged over 65 years hospitalized for severe acute respiratory or bloodstream infections, and matched controls hospitalized for non-infectious conditions. Comparative analyses employed multilevel mixed-effect linear or logistic models to assess changes from inclusion. Results: Between 2020 and 2023, 1968 patients aged 65–100 years (mean, 81) were included; 1064 (54.1%) were male and 59 (3%) were institutionalized. Of these 1968 patients, 826 were hospitalized for infectious diseases and 1142 for non-infectious conditions. At inclusion, European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions and 3 Lines scores ranged from −0.7 to 1 (full HRQOL), with a median of 0.7 across all visits and groups. Compared with controls, patients hospitalized for infectious diseases had lower scores on the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale (median, 4.5 vs. 5.0; p 0.020) and the Instrumental ADL scale (median, 3.0vs. 4.0; p < 0.001). At discharge, Instrumental ADL scores were lower in patients hospitalized for infectious diseases than in controls (median, 4.0 vs. 5.0, p 0.003), indicating reduced functioning. The proportion of frail patients, determined by a Multidimensional Prognostic Index score between 0.67 and 1, was significantly higher among patients hospitalized for infectious diseases (n = 113/801, 14.1%) than controls (n = 108/1111, 9.7%; p 0.012). At six months, no statistically significant differences were observed between groups in changes from inclusion in HRQOL (European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions and 3 Lines, p 0.436), frailty (Multidimensional Prognostic Index, p 0.269), and functioning (ADL, p 0.993). Discussion: Hospitalization for infectious diseases and non-infectious diseases or conditions had a similar impact on HRQOL in non-institutionalized older adults
Predictors of Macular Atrophy after Serous Pigment Epithelial Detachment Collapse in Type 3 Macular Neovascularization and Age-Related Macular Degeneration
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Investigating the Role of Stabilizers in Enhancing the Electrocatalytic Activity of PdAu Nanoalloy Catalysts for Methanol Oxidation in Fuel Cells through an Oxidative Addition Mechanism
No full textThe formation of nanoalloys through borohydride reduction is an effective method for creating nanocatalysts. Surfactants and stabilizers are crucial for enhancing the stability, dispersion, and electrocatalytic activity of catalysts used in the methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) in fuel cells. This study investigates the effects of various capping agents and stabilizers-reduced graphene oxide, aminoclay, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), cetyltrimethylammonium bromide, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and poly(vinyl alcohol)-on the morphology and electrocatalytic activity of PdAu nanoalloy thin films for methanol oxidation. In electrochemical tests, the PdAu/SDS catalyst demonstrated impressive activity of approximately 700.48 mA mg-1, significantly surpassing conventional Pt/C catalysts. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive analysis of X-ray, and elemental mapping analyses after accelerated durability tests revealed no significant structural changes or metal leaching following 200 MOR cycles. Our analysis aimed to clarify their functions while considering various stabilizers (cationic, anionic, nonionic) and proposed a new mechanism. The incorporation of SDS notably enhances the catalytic properties by increasing the electron density on the PdAu surface and facilitating the oxidative-addition of O-H bonds from methanol. Our proposed mechanism includes: methanol adsorption, O-H bonds activation (oxidative-addition), C-H bond activation, nucleophilic attack on a coordinated formyl group, and decarboxylation. As a result, the PdAu/SDS composite establishes itself as the most effective catalyst for methanol fuel cells, with anionic stabilizers outperforming nonionic and cationic surfactants
Innovative green technologies to improve the sustainability of viticulture and the safety of grape products
No full textThe viticulture has been expanding in Italy for several years and Puglia is one of the leading
regions of the sector. In recent years, however, climate changes and the growing need for production
sustainable for the environment and humans and which ensures the economic competitiveness of the
company at a global level is pushing the research towards the adoption of innovative and green
technologies.
Agriculture is considered one of the factors most affecting climate change, however it is itself one
of the main victims. In this context, phytosanitary management in viticulture is a crucial point, since
there are over 70 microorganisms that afflict the crop, causing plant diseases that can even evolve
into epidemics. Considering the objectives for sustainable development (Sustainable Development
Goals SDGs) of the FAO 2030 Agenda, research in this area is fundamental for reducing potential
sources of pollution, safeguard human health, protect the environment, and ensure positive economic
outcomes.
It is necessary to adopt new disease management strategies which, drawing energy from a
multidisciplinary approach, lead to the satisfaction of market demands in favor of production with
low environmental impact, as well as respectful of the constraints imposed by European regulations
and focused on the context designed by FAO, WHO and OIE for the "green" post-Covid-19 recovery
in the National Prevention Plan (PNP) 2020-2025 and towards a "One Health" vision, in which health
is the result of a harmonious and sustainable development of the humans, nature and the environment.
The general objective of this thesis was to integrate highly innovative green technologies into the
production system to improve the sustainability of the viticultural sector with a multidisciplinary
approach. The first objective was to improve knowledge on plant-pathogen relationships, focusing on
Phaeomoniella chlamydospora, that is one of the causal agents of the grapevine trunk diseases, which
has become increasingly important in recent years, also to identify potential new tolerant cultivars
(Chapter I). On grapes, some pathogens belonging to the Aspergillus genus, in addition to causing
bunch rot, are responsible for contamination by ochratoxin A (OTA), a mycotoxin that is highly
harmful for human and animal health. Given the high stability of the toxin, managing the OTA
contamination risk in the field is crucial to ensure food safety. In this work, a new molecular diagnosis
method for Aspergillus carbonarius, the main producer of the toxin on grapevines, is proposed
(Chapter II). Furthermore, the study of the role of two methyltransferases on the epigenetic regulation
of the primary and secondary metabolism of A. carbonarius allowed to identify a potential new target
for the management of the pathogen and the risk of OTA contamination (Chapter III). Help in reducing
phytosanitary treatments can come from the use of predictive models and decision support systems
(DSS), which however are often adopted without adequate field validation. In Chapter IV the
application of different predictive models for the spread of downy mildew, powdery mildew, the
flights of Lobesia botrana and the risk of OTA contamination in different areas of the Apulian territory
is evaluated. Finally, to improve the effectiveness of the active compounds, bio-based liposomal
nanocarriers were developed and in vitro tested for the control of Botrytis cinerea (Chapter V)
La formazione delle strutture ecclesiastiche e le relazioni tra le Chiese in Italia tra tarda antichità e alto medioevo (Roma, Milano, Ravenna, Italia suburbicaria)
No full textThe paper has the aim to examine the development of the diocesan system in
Italy, starting from the Nycea Council in 325 until the early 11th century, when a new
order of the ecclesiastical geography was determined in the planned reform of the Roman
Catholic Church. The A. considers with particular attention – by a careful reading
of papal inscriptions and pontifical epistolaries – the relationship of the bishop of Rome
with the episcopal seats of Milan, Ravenna and of Southern Italy. In this frame, the concession
of the palleum appears as a really distinctive mark of a special relationship with
the Pontifical Seat