ARUd’A (Università “G. d’Annunzio CHIETI -PESCARA)
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Comparing seismic piezocone and seismic dilatometer test results for the characterization of a coastal silt deposit from Finland
No full textComparing efficacy of serotonergic, opioidergic, and glutamatergic drugs in gambling disorder: A pooled analysis of response trajectories versus placebo
No full textVarious pharmacological treatments have been explored to alleviate the symptoms and clinical manifestations of gambling disorder (GD) by targeting different neurotransmitter systems. This study retrospectively analyzed subjects with GD treated with serotonergic drugs, opioid antagonist drugs, and glutamatergic drugs compared to placebo, through a pooled analysis of clinical trials conducted at the University of Chicago. The Gambling Symptom Assessment Scale (G-SAS) was employed as the outcome measure. Temporal uniformity was ensured by managing timepoints as follows: baseline, early (4–5 weeks), intermediate (6–8 weeks), and final (10–16 weeks) from the start of treatment. A total of 253 treatment-seeking subjects were included, receiving either glutamatergic drugs (N-acetylcysteine, memantine), opioidergic drugs (naltrexone), serotonergic drugs (paroxetine, escitalopram), or placebo. Within-group analysis demonstrated significant improvement in GD symptoms across all treatment groups. When comparing interventions over time, glutamatergic drugs proved more effective than placebo from the early observation timepoint and onwards. Opioidergic drugs were more effective than placebo at the final observation timepoint, while serotonergic drugs showed no significant effect compared to placebo. Our findings reveal distinct efficacy patterns among the pharmacological classes, likely due to their different mechanisms of action and the various aspects of GD phenomenology they address. The significant placebo effect observed aligns with previous studies, underscoring the complexity of treating GD. In conclusion, given the heterogeneous nature of GD, these results emphasize the necessity of identifying and precisely characterizing GD subtypes to facilitate more tailored treatment approaches
Riflessioni sulla natura politica e militante della letteratura per l'infanzia contemporanea
No full textIl contributo analizza criticità e potenzialità del filone editoriale delle refugee narratives, evidenziando il valore educativo di contro-narrazioni ispirate da una prospettiva inclusiva e post-colonialist
Taphonomy and whale-fall analysis of the Tortonian baleen whales from the Stirone river, Emilia Romagna (northern Italy)
No full textIntroduction: The taphonomy of three balaenopterid skeletons is examined in order to describe the traces left by whale fall communities. The whale specimens include two partial skeletons and an isolated periotic; one of the partial skeletons is the holotype of Plesiobalaenoptera quarantellii, while the other two specimens represent two indeterminate balaenopterid species. The high number of trace fossils observed in these specimens was not observed in previous paleontological records of whale fall communities. The diversity of the trace fossils and the broad stratigraphic context in which the assemblages are included are investigated in order to investigate into the origin and evolution of the specialized whale fall communities since the Neogene.
Methods: Macrophotographs, three-dimensional modeling from photogrammetry and laser scanner examinations of the specimens were used to analyze the diversity of trace fossils observed on the bones of the balaenopterids. Biostratigraphic analyses of the outcrops where the specimens were discovered were realized to constrain the ages of the specimens and to reconstruct paleoecological characters of the sites. Additionally, analyses of fish otoliths, mollusc shells and microfossils were carried out to refine the ecological setting of the sites.
Results: The partially articulated skeletons were affected by intense bioerosion and disarticulation that displaced several bones before the final burials.Trace fossils found on the whale bones include shark bite traces, Trypanites, Gastrochaenolites, ?Meandropolydora and Gnatulichnus ichnogenera documenting an intense exploitation of the energy reservoir represented by these carcasses. The biostratigraphic analysis of the site supports a Late Miocene (Upper Tortonian) age and shows presence of post-depositional processes. These included micro-faulting that acted on the whale bones and, in one case, provided forces able to deform a lumbar vertebra. Fish otoliths, mollusc shells and microfossils are consistent in supporting a c. 100 m deep inner shelf deposit.
Discussion: Absence of chemoautothrophic molluscs from the present whale falls confirms that water depth may be the main determinant of the presence of these highly specialized species, that flourish in anoxic environments, because decomposition at shallow depths may still occur in presence of high Oxygen concentrations. Those described herein are the most dense ensembles of traces documenting whale falls communities in the Late Miocene described up to now
Unveiling the anti-inflammatory potential of olive leaf phenolic extracts in diabetes-related endothelial dysfunction
Get PDFIntroduction: Diabetes mellitus is a severe metabolic disorder strongly linked to vascular complications driven by endothelial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress. Novel strategies to mitigate endothelial activation are urgently needed. In this context, phenolic compounds derived from olive leaves, a byproduct of olive oil production, have shown promising potential in counteracting diabetes- associated endothelial inflammation. This study investigates the potential anti-inflammatory effect of polyphenol-rich extracts derived from two olive leaves Spanish monocultivars, Picual and Changlot Real, in human umbilical vein endothelial cells from healthy pregnancies (C-HUVEC) and gestational diabetes (GD-HUVEC), which serve as a relevant in vitro model of hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunction. Methods: Olive leaf extracts were characterized by HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS. C-HUVEC and GD-HUVEC were treated with the extracts, and pro-inflammatory markers expression (NF-kB p65, MCP-1, and VCAM-1), NF-kB p65 phosphorylation, and monocyte adhesion were assessed under basal and TNFα-stimulated conditions using RT-PCR, flow cytometry, and adhesion assays. Results: Both Picual and Changlot Real extracts showed no cytotoxicity at concentrations up to 50 mg/mL. Treatment with 10 mg/mL of both extracts significantly reduced NF-kB p65 and MCP-1 gene expression, as well as NF-kB p65 phosphorylation, particularly in GD-HUVEC. VCAM-1 protein expression and TNFα-induced monocyte adhesion were also significantly decreased following extract treatment. Notably, Changlot Real exhibited a broader anti-inflammatory effect across both cell types, while Picual exerted a more selective effect in GD-HUVEC. Discussion: These findings support the anti-inflammatory activity of olive leaf polyphenols and highlight the potential of Changlot Real and Picual extracts in mitigating endothelial dysfunction associated with diabetes. By modulating the NF-kB–VCAM-1 axis, these compounds may attenuate endothelial activation, warranting further investigation into their possible role in the prevention or mitigation of diabetes-related vascular complications
Una risorsa educativa aperta per l’uso dei corpora nella classe di italiano: excursus storico-teorico e analisi dei bisogni formativi
No full textA Novel Formulation Based on Resveratrol and Water Extracts from Equisetum arvense, Crataegus curvisepala, Vitex agnus-castus, and Glycine max Inhibits the Gene Expression of Inflammatory and Osteoclastogenic Biomarkers on C2C12 Cells Exposed to Oxidative Stress
No full textMedicinal plants and natural compounds have been considered alternative therapeutic options for counteracting postmenopausal disorders thanks to their different concomitant effects, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and the regulation of hormone activity. It is important to highlight that the efficacy of medicinal plants and natural compounds increases when used in combination, thus making the development of herbal formulations rational. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical and pharmacological properties of an innovative formulation consisting of resveratrol and water extracts from Equisetum arvense, Crateagus curvisepala, Vitex agnus-castus, and Glycine max. The phenolic composition and radical scavenger properties were evaluated using chromatographic and colorimetric (ABTS) methods, whilst the limits of biocompatibility were assessed through allelopathy, the Artemia salina (brine shrimp) lethality test, and Daphnia magna cardiotoxicity assay. The protective effects were evaluated on C2C12 cell lines exposed to the pro-oxidant stimulus, which consisted of hydrogen peroxide. The gene expression of estrogen 1 (ESR1, also known as ERα) and prolactin (PRLR) receptors, interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-Β ligand (RANKL) was measured. The results of the phytochemical analysis showed that the main phytochemicals were hydroxycinnamic and phenolic acids, in particular coumaric acid (7.53 μg/mL) and rosmarinic acid (6.91 μg/mL), respectively. This could explain the radical scavenger effect observed from the 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay. According to the ecotoxicological models’ results, the formulation was revealed to be non-toxic, with a LC50 value > 1 mg/mL. Therefore, a biocompatible concentration range (200–1000 μg/mL) was used in C2C12 cells, where the formulation blunted the hydrogen peroxide-induced upregulation of TNFα, IL-6, RANKL, ESR1, and PRLR. Overall, the results of this study corroborate the use of the formulation for facing the oxidative stress and inflammation, which forms the basis of the osteoclastogenic process
59. Patient Perspectives and Nursing Satisfaction in the Evaluation of High Efficacy Treatment in Multiple Sclerosis: A Cross-sectional Study
No full textLocalized Cancer Treatment Using Thiol–Ene Hydrogels for Dual Drug Delivery
No full textCombinatorial cancer therapy benefits from injectable hydrogels for localized, controlled drug delivery. This study presents a thiol-ene conjugated hydrogel formed by cross-linking thiol-modified hyaluronic acid (HASH) with vinyl sulfone-modified β-cyclodextrin (CDVS). Four formulations (23Gel-16, 23Gel-33, 99Gel-16, 99Gel-33) were synthesized by varying HASH molecular weight (23 or 99 kDa) and CDVS modification (16% or 33%). Rheological analysis confirmed enhanced viscoelasticity with increasing molecular weight and modification (99Gel-33 > 99Gel-16 > 23Gel-33 > 23Gel-16). The system enabled combinatorial delivery of doxorubicin (DOX) and carvacrol (CRV), exhibiting tumor-responsive degradation and tunable release. DOX release accelerated under tumor-mimicking conditions (100% in 46 h vs 58.7% in PBS), while CRV showed an initial burst followed by sustained release. The hydrogel promoted mesenchymal stem cell proliferation and effectively inhibited triple-negative breast cancer cells. This injectable, tumor-responsive hydrogel system offers a promising platform for minimally invasive, personalized cancer therapy