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Valutazione del potenziale di sequestro del carbonio forestale nella serie di vegetazione <i>Galio-Scabri Quercetum ilicis</i>: il caso di studio del Monte Arci: Sardegna centrale
No full textThe main goal of this research is to verify the feasibility and applicability of procedures aimed at estimating forest carbon stocks for different land use categories at the local scale. As a case study the Monte Arci - Distretto forestale dell'Arci Grighine (central-western Sardinia), was chosen. In this ambit, the vegetation series of the Galio scabri-Quercetum ilicis was evaluated, on a total area of 1,650 hectares of woods and shrubs. The investigation started from unpublished inventory data (level Tier 3 for the pool "aboveground biomass"), describing the dendrometric features of the studied woods in the year 2010, that were gathered with the aim of building the knowledge system for the settlement of the district forestry plan. This research was realized in the ambit of the institutional collaboration between the Assessorato alla Difesa dell'Ambiente of Autonomous Region of Sardinia as the manager institution, and the Dept. of Sciences for Nature and Environmental Resources of the University of Sassari as the research institution. The data developed for 2010 and the elaboration of a management scenario characterized by a sustainable ecological-productive orientation, allowed us to estimate potential carbon stocks of the study area for 2040. Our estimates describe a total of 1,144.65 tons of C (4,190 tons of equivalent CO2) for 2010, and a thirty-year increase of 6,182.84 tons of C (22,690 tons of equivalent CO2) for 2040 on the whole area. The method herein tested, proved to be effective to support decision processes for forest planning, and as an informative tool to communicate targets in the ambit of participatory planning processes that are increasingly applied. Furthermore, our results can motivate public and private forest land managers to join protocols for forest management certification, and to promote the development of voluntary markets meeting emission trading schemes to be adopted at the local scale for the transition of carbon credits
Profarmaco: un approccio strategico in continua crescita in campo farmaceutico
No full textDuring my PhD course I synthesized galactosylated prodrugs of indomethacin, flurbiprofen, ketoprofen, mefenamic acid, diclofenac and ibuprofen. In the synthesis of these prodrugs, when possible, was used a ionic liquid exactly 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([bmim][PF6]) in order to reduce pollutants and improve the yields. Then for each prodrug were studied chemical and enzymatic stability (human plasma) in vitro, in order to perform pharmacological experiments in vivo. All the prodrugs showed pharmacological and toxicological profile better than parent drugs, indeed a remarkable reduction of ulcerogenicity was found. I worked also at another project aiming to enhance concentration of mycophenolic acid, an immunosuppressant, in lymphatic vessels. In this case was used 1,3-dipalmitoil diglyceride as vector linked, via different spacers, to parent drug. Lymphatic transport studies were performed on synthesized prodrugs evaluating the lymphatic concentration of parent drug; the experimental results showed that the amount of mycophenolic acid released in the lymphatic vessels by prodrugs is higher than the immunosuppressant itself
Influenza dell'azione degli antiossidanti nella capacità fecondante dei gameti maschili e femminili
No full textA significant reduction in spermatozoa’s and ovocites’s level antioxidants has been reported as cause of susceptibility of these cells to peroxidative injuries after cryopreservation and in vitro maturation (IVM). The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are qualitative differences of antioxidant capacity content in follicular fluids collected from ovarian follicles in seminal plasma and sperm cell extract among boar and ram at different times of the year. Samples were processed rapidly and kept frozen at − 80 °C until assayed. TEAC, SOD, MDA and ROMs of PFF, seminal plasma and sperm cell extract was determined using assays as described in literature and modified. Obtained results showed statistically significant differences for all PFF’s assays, while for boar semen’s d-Roms test, MDA and seminal plasma’s SOD wasn’t s statistically significant differences. In ram’s semen, only Roms’ assay wasn’t statistically significant.
Our results suggest that that the quality of the follicular fluid (and the ability to increase the IVM) as well as quality of boar and ram semen, may be linked to their oxidative state. This finding can be applied to develop protocol to optimize IVM in pig and optimize semen cryopreservation protocols, but may also have an application in developing therapeutic protocols for male infertility related to a decrease in sperm antioxidant defense system.</br
Studio sulla variabilità di composti bioattivi in latte e formaggi prodotti in Sardegna
No full textThe bioactive compound y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and biogenic amines, together with protein-free amino acids, were measured by HPLC in ewe’s milk chesees produced in Sardinia. The study included three types of cheese: Pecorino Sardo DOP, Pecorino and Casu Marzu. Farmhouse Casu Marzu and Pecorino showed y-aminobutyric acid content that had never been found so high in cheese till now, suggesting that these types of cheese present ideal conditions to produce GABA. These two types of cheese also showed high levels of biogenic amines. Pearson’s correlation analysis observed a significant correlation between GABA and the main biogenic amines present in the cheeses suggesting that the factors affecting the production of Gaba are the same as those influencing biogenic amine formation. The bioactive taurine compound has been determined by HPLC in the milk of the Sardinian and Maltese goat. The milk came from two farm animals in order to evaluate the variability of this compound in relation to the content in somatic cells, parameter which indicates a mammary infection. Other aspects such as the race, the farm animal conditions and the lactation phase have also been considered. Through univariate statistical analysis (ANOVA and Tukey’s test) and also multivariate statistical analysis (Hyerarchical cluster analysis), the presence of sample groupswhere the taurine content decreases as the somatic cells increase and the daily production of milk decreases has been evaluated
Rational design and application of a new cell-penetrating peptide targeting mitochondria
No full textAim: Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are short, no toxic peptides with cationic or/and amphipathic properties able to get inside cellular organelle. For this reason, CPPs are used in delivery of a wide variety of cargoes, such as peptides, drugs and nucleic acids. The aim of the present study was to synthesize a small novel cell-penetrating peptide based on CPPs Szeto-Schiller peptide sequence with low toxicity and able to targeting mitochondria.
Methods: All peptides used were synthesized manually using Fmoc chemistry. In the first step of project, Hela 705 cells were seeded at 1x104cells/100µL and 24h later they were treated with different concentrations of our peptide. Cell proliferation assay was performed to evaluate cell viability and further biological effects, such as mitochondrial potential membrane and antioxidant activity, were valued. During last step of the project, uptake studies were performed using a carboxyfluorescein-conjugated peptide. Fluorescent microscopy was used to determine presence of peptide inside cells and isolated mitochondria to confirm as one of its target.
Results: Microscopy studies confirmed ability of this peptide to get inside cell and isolation of mitochondria showed its high concentration in mitochondrial compartment. Biological studies showed absence of toxicity and no effect on mitochondrial potential membrane making MIP1 an important tool applicable in delivery molecules of therapeutic strategies. Moreover, antioxidant properties confirmed protective actions of MIP1 against H2O2 insult.
Conclusion: We obtained a promising peptide MIP1. CPPs provide a promising delivery strategy for gene regulation or gene therapy. MIP1 conjugated with different cargoes could be used as important delivery machine, making easier mitochondrial treatments. Moreover, due to its own antioxidant activities, MIP1 could be a really useful tool against oxidative stress.</br
Several aspects of pathogenesis of <i>Trichomonas vaginalis</i>
No full textThe pathobiology of Trichomonas vaginalis involves direct and indirect interactions with host tissue, bacteria and viruses. In this work, we investigated adhesion and interaction with human microbiota, pathogenic mechanisms of protozoan.
We characterized a new protein, TVAG339720, belonging to M60-like/PF13402 domain-containing proteins. M60-like domains are shared by proteins from several mucosal microbes, hypothetically relating with epithelial cells. TVAG339720 is characterized by a signal peptide, a transmembran domain, and putative carbohydrate binding modules, PA14 and GBDL, supposed to bind to heparin and heparan sulphate (HS). HS are sugars forming proteoglycans, a component of epithelial cells glycocalyx. We tested protease activity of TVAG339720 towards proteoglycans and interaction between CBMs, heparin and HS. Although the target of TVAG339720-M60L is still unknown, the bounds between TVAG339720-CBMs and HS suggest that these proteases play a role in adhesion to epithelial layer.
T.vaginalis interactions with microbes of urogenital tract represent another pathogenic mechanism. We focused on symbiosis established with Mycoplasma hominis, studying how M.hominis influences T.vaginalis pathobiology in vitro. Comparing the ATP produced by free-protozoan and T.vaginalis with M.hominis and evaluating mycoplasma ability to influence nitric oxide production by macrophage in T. vaginalis infections, we can assert that this is a mutually beneficial endosymbiotic relationship
Family meal frequency, weight status and healthy management in children, young adults and seniors: a study in Sardinia, Italy
No full textObjective: To examine family meal frequency, and weight management as a protective factor throughout
life. Participants: Selected by city and by town in Sardinia (Italy), the 522 participants were divided
into 162 children (7–11 years), 187 young adults (19–30 years), and 173 seniors (65–90 years). Method:
Chi-square analyses were used to compare the frequency of family meals, weight (self-reported and perceived)
and healthy management (physical activity, dieting, perceived appetite) between age groups. In
addition, multinomial regression analyses were carried out to find associations, with age group as the
dependent variable and frequency of family meal, weight status, and healthy management categories
as independent variables, adjusted for moderating effects. Results: Significant associations with age variables
were observed in mealtime frequency (skipping breakfast and mid-morning snack in adults and lunch in children and seniors), in decreasing self-reported normal weight with age and increasing perceived overweight with age, and in physical activity, dieting and perceived appetite. Conclusions and Implications: The results suggest the protective nature of family meals for adults and seniors, and identify significant associations (and some differences) between age groups. Discrepancies suggest the
importance of education about body weight awareness throughout life
Copper(II) andlead(II)removal from aqueous solution by water treatment residues
No full textIn this study, we investigated the ability of Fe- and Al-based water treatment residues (Fe- and Al-WTR) to accumulate Pb(II) and Cu(II) at pH 4.5. The role of the inorganic and organic fractions of WTRs in metals sorption was also assessed. Sorption isotherms showed a higher sorption of Pb(II) by both WTRs with respect to Cu(II) (e.g. 0.105 and 0.089 mmol g−1 of Pb(II) and Cu(II) respectively sorbed by Fe-WTR). Fe-WTR revealed a stronger sorbent for both metals than Al-WTR. The amount of Pb(II) and Cu(II) sorbed by Fe-WTR was about the 69% and 63% higher than that sorbed by the Al-WTR. The organic matter of Fe- and Al-WTR contributed to about 26% and 8.5% respectively in the sorption of both metals. The sequential extraction procedure showed that the greatest amount of metals sorbed by both WTRs were tightly bound and not extractable, and this was particularly apparent for Cu(II). The FT-IR spectra indicated the formation of inner-sphere complexes between the Fe(Al)–O nucleus and Pb(II) and Cu(II). Moreover, the FT-IR spectra also suggested that the humic fraction of WTRs interacted, through the carboxylate groups, with Cu(II) and Pb(II) by forming mainly monodentate and bidentate complexes, respectively
Archeologia urbana ad Alghero: dal <i>Castellas</i> al Monastero di Santa Chiara
No full textThe aim of this research is to define, using material heritage, the historic and socio-economic dynamics that in medieval and post-medieval times governed the harbour town of Alghero, located in North-west Sardinia. Founded in the Middle Ages, the town was a stopover of primary importance for traffic in the Mediterranean basin; it has been the focal point of a detailed urban archaeology programme for some twenty years.
The research concerns a heterogeneous set of findings, both ceramic and numismatic, in the excavations of a part of the old town occupied in the early Middle Ages by the Jewish quarter, which contributed to the busy trade of Alghero. An analysis of the ceramic relics enabled us to define from morphological, typological and functional standpoints the variety of pottery for the table and for transportation used by the community of Alghero in the Jewish quarter and before this existed.
Numismatic findings enabled new data to be added to what is already known today regarding the circulation of coins in Alghero and North Sardinia.
The possibility of matching up information on the areas of provenance of the ceramics and coins, important trading markers, led us to reach certain conclusive considerations on the internal organisation of the geopolitical and economic situation of which the town of Alghero was part, comprising Western Europe and the west Mediterranean basin.</br
Cellular and molecular study of vascular damage during systemic sclerosis
No full textSystemic Sclerosis is a devastating vascular, connective and a multisystem autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis of skin and internal organs. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is one of the clinical manifestations of SSc that arise as a result of cellular and molecular vascular damage in the vascular wall. Oxidative stress is largely evidenced in the development of arterial hypertension in SSc. And, it is likely that circulating pro-oxidant factors may be involved in the pathogenesis of SSc-PAH by inducing VSMCs activation and phenotypic switch. So we speculate, that in SSc patients associated with Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH), circulating factors may drive an aberrant vascular remodeling by exerting pro-oxidant and pro-fibrotic effects on Human Pulmonary Arterial Smooth Muscle Cells (HPASMCs) and activate collagen I synthesis. To test this hypothesis, we exposed primary Human Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells (HPASMCs) to serum obtained from SSc patients with or without PAH and healthy donors (HD) and looked for the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and collagen I synthesis. From our study, we found that SSc-PAH patients’ circulating factors exhibited pro-oxidant effect by inducing ROS generation through NOX2 in HPASMCs and we also found that, circulating factors exhibited pro-fibrotic effect by inducing activation of collagen I synthesis in HPASMCs via ERK signaling, thus asserting the vascular damage in SSc patients